Myths about our brain abound. You’ve probably seen at least a few of them in movies, books, or TV shows. The objective of this assignment is to collect and use evidence to write a 3–5 page paper debunking a myth about the brain.
Preparation
Select one of the following myths:
• We only use 10% of our brain.
• Brain training will make you smart.
• The brain perceives the world as it is.
• Right-brained people are more creative.
• Adults can’t grow new brain cells.
• The brain is a computer.
You can learn more about the myth you chose in Jarrett’s (2014) Great Myths of the Brain, located in your reading list. This can be used as a source in your paper:
• Week 8 Assignment.Links to an external site.
Find one flawed source of information on the internet. To find a flawed source, look for one with a substantial number of errors.
• Read what the textbook says about the myth.
• Use the myth you chose and use it as your search word/phrase.
o If you don’t see a flawed source on the first page of results, skip to the 3rd page of results or further.
• Look for sources that are not accurate based on the information in your textbook.
• Tips for finding flawed sources:
o Scroll through your social media feeds.
o Scroll through your results and look for sources that are not:
 .gov websites.
 News or press websites.
Then find and read two peer-reviewed journal articles on the topic. You will use these articles to help debunk the myth through their research findings.
For help finding flawed sources and peer-reviewed articles for this assignment, you may want to complete the library instruction activity:
• Searching Capella Library for Myth Busting AssignmentLinks to an external site..
Instructions
Write a 3–5 page paper which includes:
• Brief summary of the myth and evidence provided by the website (your flawed source).
• Challenge the myth: provide evidence that the myth is not correct.
o Identify assumptions that underlie or support the myth.
o Include the research findings from peer-reviewed journal articles.
 For each source:
 Discuss the methods, participants, and results.
 Explain the reliability, validity, and generalizability of the sources.
 Discuss whether the research is ethical based on the five APA ethical principles of psychologists. Refer to the specific principles and cite the APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct.
• Using your textbook and other scholarly sources, discuss how the brain and body work in relation to your myth.
o We only use 10% of our brain—focus on the cerebrum.
o Brain training will make you smart—focus on the chapter on intelligence.
o The brain perceives the world as it is—focus on the chapters about our senses.
o Right-brained people are more creative—focus on how the hemispheres work.
o Adults can’t grow new brain cells—focus on Chapters 2 and 3.
o The brain is a computer—focus on the chapter on memory.
• Construct your own theory: based on your research, what do you think is correct?
Use headers to organize your paper. You should have at least three headers.

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

Step 1: Choose Your Brain Myth

Select one myth from the list:

We only use 10% of our brain
Brain training will make you smart
The brain perceives the world as it is
Right-brained people are more creative
Adults can’t grow new brain cells
The brain is a computer

👉 Tutor tip: Pick a myth that aligns with the chapters you understand best in your textbook. This makes connecting evidence easier.

Step 2: Find a Flawed Source

Search the internet using the myth phrase (e.g., “We only use 10% of our brain”)
Look for a source with multiple errors:
- Avoid .gov or reputable news websites
- Look for blogs, social media posts, or “popular science” sites with exaggerated claims
Record the full citation of the flawed source for use in your paper

Step 3: Find Two Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

Use your library database or Google Scholar
Criteria:
- Peer-reviewed
- Focused on neuroscience, brain function, or intelligence (depending on your myth)
Take notes on:
- Research methods
- Participants/sample size
- Key results/findings
- Reliability, validity, and generalizability
- Ethical considerations (APA Ethical Principles: Beneficence, Fidelity, Integrity, Justice, Respect for Rights & Dignity)

Step 4: Organize Your Paper Using Headers

Header 1: Myth Overview

Summarize the myth
Include evidence from the flawed source
Identify assumptions that support the myth

Header 2: Research Evidence Debunking the Myth

Present evidence from your two peer-reviewed journal articles
For each study:
- Describe methods, participants, and results
- Discuss reliability, validity, generalizability
- Discuss ethical considerations referencing APA principles
Explain why the myth is scientifically inaccurate

Header 3: Brain and Body Mechanisms

Use your textbook and other scholarly sources
Connect myth claims to real brain function:
- Example: “We only use 10% of our brain” → Discuss cerebrum activity and neural networks
- Example: “Brain training will make you smart” → Discuss neuroplasticity vs. intelligence tests
Explain how the brain and body interact to produce cognition, behavior, or perception

Header 4: Your Theory

Construct your own evidence-based perspective
Combine research findings and textbook knowledge
Present a clear, scientifically grounded conclusion

Step 5: Writing Tips

Length: 3–5 pages, double-spaced
Formatting: APA 7th edition, Times New Roman 12 pt
Use in-text citations for textbook, journal articles, and flawed source
Include a References page
Maintain professional tone and logical organization

Step 6: Review Ethical Principles

When evaluating research:

Beneficence & Nonmaleficence: Are participants safe?
Fidelity & Responsibility: Are researchers accountable?
Integrity: Are findings reported honestly?
Justice: Were participants fairly selected?
Respect for Rights & Dignity: Was confidentiality protected?

Include these considerations in your Research Evidence Debunking the Myth section.

Step 7: Suggested Open-Access Resources for Research

PubMed Central – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/
Google Scholar – https://scholar.google.com
Frontiers in Neuroscience – https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience
PLOS ONE – https://journals.plos.org/plosone/
Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience – https://www.mitpressjournals.org/loi/jocn

Step 8: Paper Checklist

Myth clearly stated and flawed source summarized
Two peer-reviewed articles discussed in detail
Research methods, results, reliability, validity, generalizability included
Ethical considerations explained using APA principles
Brain and body mechanisms explained
Evidence-based theory constructed
Headers used to organize content
APA citations and References page included
3–5 pages, double-spaced, Times New Roman, 12 pt

Debunking Myths About Brain Function