Question: how much voltage does the brain use in ones life time?

Jacquie Oliwa answered on 4 Jul 2017:

Hi there..
That’s an interesting question..you must either be a fan of Morpheus from the Matrix (great movie!) or you want to be a neuroscientist..
I have had to do a bit of research, but I am scientist so that’s right up my alley 😉

So the experts say, it is close to impossible to tell..The brain is made up of billions of neurons (nerve cells) in billions or trillions of connections akin to electrical circuits..The average neuron contains a resting voltage of approximately 70 millivolts or 0.07 volts. Brains are wired in series and parallel of over billions of neurons. If the brain was just in wired in series, that would be 0.07 volts multiplied by the billions to get the correct brain voltage.

Now how much brain pwoer one uses has been a subject of debate, with myths that we only use 10% of our potential brain power. So the myth has been refuted by neuroscientists who say “we use virtually every part of the brain, and that (most of) the brain is active almost all the time”..

Brain imaging (neuroimaging) technologies such as positron emission tomography (PET) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) are able to monitor brain activity, and they show that even during sleep, all parts of the brain show some level of activity. Only in the case of serious brain damage do you observe areas of no activity..

So we can safely assume that we use all 0.07volts * several billions of power throughout ones lifetime, unless you get into a nasty boda boda accident that leaves you brain dead!
I hope that answers your question and g’luck becomeing a (neuro) scientist..