What do you know about the brain. Or better yet, what do you THINK you know?

There are a lot of things people seem to think are facts about the brain, yet Science has proven them to be NOT true.

Yet, there are other things that teachers should know to be fact about the brain.

Let's have some fun with Brain Myths. Which of these are fact, and which are fiction?

We only use 10% of our brain: Fact or fiction? I've heard this one for years! What do you think? Do you think 90% of our brains are unused?

We only use 10% of our brain: that's a myth!

We all use all the parts of our brain! Sorry, Science says that's a myth.

Here's another one:

$Men are better at math. Women are better at language. Fact or fiction?$

Men and Women Learn Differently: Fact or Fiction? Many feel that men are better at math and women are better at language. What does Science have to say about this?

$Brain myths: Fact or Fiction? Science has learned a lot about the brain, how many of these do you think are true?$

Sorry, that's a myth! Men and women are capable of learning both, and any differences you might notice have nothing to do with the development of the brain!

Let's try this one:

Brain myths: Fact or Fiction? Science has learned a lot about the brain, how many of these do you think are true?

Some people are left-brained, and some people are right-brained: Fact or Fiction? What does Science say?

All people use both sides of their brain! I know a few people who will fight this one, but sorry, Science says no!

What about doing puzzles? Does that help the brain?

Doing crossword puzzles improves the memory: Fact or Fiction? There are people out there selling all sorts of games, puzzles, and challenges for the sake of improving the memory. Is it true?

Nope, don't waste your money! Science says puzzles and crosswords just won't do it!

Now, about the development of the brain:

The brain is fully mature at birth: Fact or Fiction? What does Science have to say?

Oh, heavens, no! The brain isn't fully developed until a person is about 25. Think of your thought process when you were a teenager, or better yet, other teenagers you know. They still have some developing to do, don't they?

What about the size of the brain?

The size of your brain determines how smart you are: Fact or fiction? That age old question: Does size really matter?

Science says no to this one as well! If bigger brains made us smarter, wouldn't elephants be smarter than us? I'd really like to see an elephant doing scientific research!

How well does the brain work under pressure?

The Brain works better under pressure: Fact or fiction? Remember when you had that big project due? Didn't that motivate you to work harder?

Despite waiting until the last minute until getting that project done, Science has proved that stress is NOT good for the brain! Seriously, had you budgeted your time, you probably would have been a better job.

Ok, now how about this one?

Playing classical music makes infants smarter: Fact or fiction?
Did you play classical music for your children when they were babies?

Science says there is no evidence to back this up! But I'm sure they enjoyed the music anyway!

Well, how about this one. Do your memories get stored in files, like a computer?

The brain stores memories like a computer: Fact or fiction? What do you think?

Sorry, the brain is far more complex than a computer. In fact, many memories are far from accurate! (Judges, lawyers and eye witnesses need to explore this!)

We were always taught that a person's IQ was constant. Is this true?

Your IQ will always stay the same: Fact or fiction? I always believed this to be true! Was I right?

Well, Science has disproved this theory as well! A person's IQ will fluctuate throughout his or her whole life!

As teachers, we know that everyone has their own preferred learning style, right?

Everyone has a preferred learning style: Fact or fiction? As teachers, don't we know this to be the case?

Sorry, Science has proved this one to be incorrect as well. It's true that including visuals, sound, or hands-on activities WILL help a person learn, but no one person has one preferred style.