How much of our brain do humans actually use?

The claim that humans use only 10% of their brain is a persistent myth with no basis in neuroscience. Brain imaging technology shows that, over the course of a normal day, virtually all regions of the brain become active at some point, even if not simultaneously, as different areas handle vision, movement, memory, language, and countless other functions. Even during sleep, large portions of the brain remain active, consolidating memories and regulating the body.

Only about 10% badly understates actual brain activity and is the popular myth itself rather than the reality shown by brain scans. The idea that we only use our brain while asleep also misrepresents things, since the brain is highly active during waking hours handling conscious thought and movement, in addition to its activity during sleep.

The 10% myth likely persists partly because it's an appealing, hopeful idea suggesting untapped potential, and it has been reinforced over the decades by movies and popular media, even though neuroscientists have long since debunked it using brain scanning technology.