Learning Myths That Refuse to Die
You've probably heard you should match teaching to your "learning style." Or that you only use 10% of your brain. Or that you're either left-brained (analytical) or right-brained (creative). These ideas are everywhere—in schools, self-help books, corporate training.
They're also completely false.
These learning myths persist despite decades of research debunking them. They waste time, money, and effort. Worse, they crowd out strategies that actually work. Understanding which popular learning beliefs are myths—and why—helps you learn more effectively and avoid wasting effort on techniques that don't deliver.
Myth 1: Learning Styles (Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic)
The Claim
Popular belief:
- People have distinct learning styles (visual, auditory, kinesthetic, sometimes read/write)
- Students learn best when instruction matches their style
- Visual learners need pictures; auditory learners need lectures; kinesthetic learners need hands-on activity
- Identifying your learning style improves educational outcomes
Prevalence:
- Believed by 90%+ of educators (multiple surveys)
- Taught in teacher training programs
- Used to design curricula
- Multi-million dollar industry (assessments, training materials)
The Evidence
Scientific consensus: Learning styles theory is not supported by evidence.
Key research findings:
| Study | Finding |
|---|---|
| Pashler et al. (2008) | Systematic review found no evidence that matching instruction to learning styles improves outcomes |
| Riener & Willingham (2010) | "There is no credible evidence that learning styles exist" |
| Kirschner & van Merriënboer (2013) | Learning styles as urban legend in education |
| Rogowsky et al. (2015) | Matching instruction to learning preference showed no benefit for comprehension |
| Aslaksen & Lorås (2018) | Students performed equally well regardless of match/mismatch with preferred style |
Meta-analysis conclusion: No study using rigorous methodology (matching vs. mismatching instruction to diagnosed style) has shown learning style benefits. Effect size: essentially zero.
Why the Myth Persists
Intuitive appeal:
- People do have preferences
- Anecdotal experiences seem to confirm it ("I'm a visual person; I learn better with diagrams")
- Simple, easy-to-understand framework
Conflation:
- Preferences ≠ enhanced learning
- Enjoying visual materials ≠ learning better from them
- "I like pictures" ≠ "I learn better from pictures than text"
What's real:
- Content matters: Some content is better suited to certain modalities (anatomy → visual; music → auditory; dance → kinesthetic)
- Multimodal is better: Using multiple senses (visual + verbal) typically enhances learning
- Individual differences exist: But not in the form of fixed learning styles
What Actually Works Instead
| Instead of Learning Styles | Use Evidence-Based Approaches |
|---|---|
| Diagnose learning style and teach accordingly | Match instruction to content (teach geography with maps, music with sound) |
| Stick to preferred modality | Use multiple modalities (visual + verbal together is more effective) |
| Categorize students | Use varied teaching methods for everyone |
| Invest in learning style assessments | Invest in proven techniques (retrieval practice, spaced repetition, elaboration) |
Key insight: The best way to present information depends on what you're teaching, not who you're teaching.
Myth 2: We Only Use 10% of Our Brain
The Claim
Popular belief:
- Humans use only 10% of brain capacity
- 90% sits idle, untapped potential
- "Unlocking" this potential enables superhuman abilities
- If we could access full brain, we'd be geniuses
Cultural prevalence:
- Movies (Limitless, Lucy)
- Self-help books
- Motivational speakers
- "Brain training" product marketing
The Evidence
Scientific reality: We use all of our brain.
Neuroscience findings:
| Method | Evidence Against 10% Myth |
|---|---|
| Brain imaging (fMRI, PET) | Shows activity throughout brain, even during simple tasks |
| Brain lesion studies | Damage to even small areas causes deficits; no "unused" regions |
| Metabolic studies | Brain uses 20% of body's energy despite being 2% of body weight—wouldn't happen if 90% idle |
| Evolution | Natural selection wouldn't maintain expensive, unused tissue |
| Neural recording | All areas show activity over course of day |
Neurologist Barry Gordon (Johns Hopkins): "We use virtually every part of the brain, and... [most of] the brain is active almost all the time."
Origins of the Myth
Possible sources:
| Theory | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Misinterpretation of neuroscience | Early studies showing ~10% of neurons firing at any moment (but different neurons at different times) |
| William James (1908) | Wrote we use only "small part" of potential—metaphorical, not literal |
| Dale Carnegie (1936) | Popularized "average person develops only 10 percent of latent mental ability" |
| Glial cells | 90% of brain cells are glia (support cells), not neurons—misinterpreted as "unused" |
Why It's Harmful
Misleading implications:
- False hope of untapped potential waiting to be "unlocked"
- Exploitation by pseudoscience (brain training scams, supplements)
- Misunderstanding of neuroplasticity and learning
- Dismissal of need for effort ("I just need to access my hidden 90%")
Reality:
- Brain potential isn't about using "more" of brain
- It's about more efficient connections, better representations, deliberate practice
- Improvement comes from learning, not unlocking hidden capacity
Myth 3: Left-Brain/Right-Brain Dominance
The Claim
Popular theory:
- People are either left-brained (logical, analytical, mathematical) or right-brained (creative, artistic, intuitive)
- Brain hemisphere dominance determines personality and abilities
- Education/training should cater to dominant hemisphere
Prevalence:
- Personality quizzes
- Career guidance
- Management training
- Self-help literature
The Evidence
Scientific reality: Both hemispheres work together on virtually all tasks.
Research findings:
| Study | Finding |
|---|---|
| Nielsen et al. (2013) | Brain scan study of 1,000+ people found no evidence of "left-brained" or "right-brained" dominance |
| Corballis (2014) | Review: "The two hemispheres are much more similar than different" |
| Gazzaniga split-brain studies | Even when hemispheres surgically separated, both contribute to most functions |
| Modern neuroimaging | Complex tasks activate networks across both hemispheres |
What's real (lateralization):
| Function | Hemisphere Bias | Caveat |
|---|---|---|
| Language | Left (for most people) | Right hemisphere also contributes (prosody, context) |
| Spatial attention | Right (slight bias) | Both hemispheres involved |
| Face recognition | Right (slight bias) | Both hemispheres process faces |
Key point: These are tendencies, not absolute divisions. Both hemispheres contribute to language, spatial reasoning, creativity, logic.
Why the Myth Persists
Appealing simplicity:
- Binary categories are easy to understand
- Provides identity ("I'm right-brained, that's why I'm creative")
- Explains individual differences
Kernel of truth:
- Hemispheres do have some functional specialization
- Myth exaggerates and oversimplifies this
What Actually Matters
Instead of hemisphere dominance:
| Myth Focus | Reality Focus |
|---|---|
| Which hemisphere dominates | How well hemispheres integrate via corpus callosum |
| Binary personality types | Specific skills developed through practice |
| Fixed hemisphere strengths | Neuroplasticity: abilities can be developed in both hemispheres |
| Innate creativity vs. logic | Everyone uses both logical and creative thinking |
Neuroscientist Stephen Kosslyn: "No evidence that people's neural networks are more active on one side than the other... It's all a big myth."
Myth 4: Multitasking Makes You More Productive
The Claim
Popular belief:
- Some people can effectively multitask
- Doing multiple things at once saves time
- Digital natives are better multitaskers
- Multitasking is a learnable skill
The Evidence
Scientific reality: Multitasking is an illusion. You're actually task-switching, which reduces performance.
Research findings:
| Study | Finding |
|---|---|
| Rubinstein, Meyer & Evans (2001) | Task-switching costs: 40% longer to complete two tasks when switching vs. sequential |
| Ophir, Nass & Wagner (2009) | Heavy multitaskers are worse at filtering irrelevant information, worse at switching |
| Carrier et al. (2015) | Students who multitask during learning score lower on tests |
| Sanbonmatsu et al. (2013) | People who multitask most are worst at it, but think they're best |
| Atchley et al. (2014) | Even brief interruptions (2.8 seconds) double error rates |
What happens when "multitasking":
- Rapid switching between tasks
- Attention residue (part of mind still on previous task)
- Increased cognitive load
- More errors, slower performance
The Cost
Productivity loss:
| Activity | Performance Cost from Multitasking |
|---|---|
| Learning | 40% reduction in information retained (Stanford study) |
| Complex problem-solving | 25-40% efficiency loss |
| Driving while texting | Reaction time equivalent to 0.08% BAC (legally drunk) |
| Work tasks | Average 23 minutes to fully return to task after interruption |
Exception: Highly automatized tasks (walking while talking) don't compete for cognitive resources. But learning, thinking, creating all require focused attention—multitasking degrades these.
Why the Myth Persists
Cultural pressure:
- "Always on" work culture
- Technology enables constant switching
- Appearing busy seems more important than being effective
Misunderstanding:
- Confusing feeling busy with being productive
- Short-term reward (novelty, dopamine hits) masks long-term costs
What Works Instead
| Multitasking Myth | Evidence-Based Alternative |
|---|---|
| Do several things simultaneously | Time-block: dedicate focused time to each task |
| Stay responsive (check messages constantly) | Batch: check messages at set intervals |
| Switch between tasks when bored | Single-tasking: complete deep work before switching |
| Always be available | Protect focus time: communicate boundaries |
Cal Newport's Deep Work: Greatest insights, learning, and productivity come from sustained, focused attention—the opposite of multitasking.
Myth 5: Cramming Works (or Works Well Enough)
The Claim
Popular belief:
- Intense studying right before exam is effective
- Procrastination + cramming gets results
- All-nighter can make up for weeks of not studying
- Short-term recall is good enough
The Evidence
Reality: Cramming produces temporary recall but prevents long-term learning.
Research findings:
| Study | Finding |
|---|---|
| Cepeda et al. (2006) | Meta-analysis: spaced practice dramatically outperforms massed practice (cramming) |
| Karpicke & Roediger (2008) | After 1 week, crammed information retention: ~20%; spaced practice: ~80% |
| Kornell & Bjork (2008) | Cramming creates illusion of learning (fluency ≠ retention) |
| Dunlosky et al. (2013) | Cramming rated as low-utility learning strategy by evidence |
What cramming does:
- Creates short-term recognition (enough to pass multiple-choice test tomorrow)
- Fails to consolidate long-term memory
- No deep understanding
- Information disappears within days
What spaced practice does:
- Builds lasting memory
- Develops understanding
- Enables application and transfer
- Information accessible long-term
The Cost
Academic:
- Poor performance on cumulative exams
- Can't build on knowledge in advanced courses
- Weak foundations
Professional:
- Can't apply crammed information in real situations
- Need to relearn everything from scratch
Why Students Cram Anyway
| Reason | Reality |
|---|---|
| Time pressure | Poor planning creates necessity |
| Short-term optimization | Incentive is passing test, not learning |
| Illusion of learning | Cramming creates fluency, feels like learning |
| Immediate urgency | Exam tomorrow beats abstract future benefit |
What Works Instead
Spaced repetition schedule:
| Timeline | Review Schedule | Retention |
|---|---|---|
| Cramming | Study once, right before test | 20% after 1 week |
| Spaced | Study on days 1, 3, 7, 14 | 80% after 1 week |
Additional effective strategies:
- Retrieval practice: Test yourself repeatedly
- Interleaving: Mix topics rather than blocking
- Elaboration: Connect new material to existing knowledge
- Adequate sleep: Consolidation requires sleep (all-nighters destroy learning)
Myth 6: Intelligence/Talent is Fixed
The Claim
Fixed mindset belief:
- Intelligence is innate and unchangeable
- You're born smart or not
- Talent determines success; effort matters less
- Struggling means you lack ability
The Evidence
Growth mindset research (Carol Dweck):
- Intelligence is malleable
- Effort, strategies, and persistence develop abilities
- Brain is plastic; learning strengthens neural connections
Evidence:
| Study | Finding |
|---|---|
| Dweck (2006) | Students taught growth mindset improve performance, persist more |
| Blackwell, Trzesniewski & Dweck (2007) | Growth mindset intervention increases math grades |
| Paunesku et al. (2015) | Growth mindset online intervention improved GPA |
| Ericsson, Krampe & Tesch-Römer (1993) | Expert performance in music, sports, chess driven by deliberate practice, not innate talent |
Neuroplasticity research:
- Learning creates new neural connections
- Practice strengthens pathways
- Brain structure changes with expertise (taxi drivers' spatial areas, musicians' motor cortex)
Why Fixed Mindset Persists
Self-fulfilling:
- Believing talent is fixed → avoid challenges → don't develop skills → confirms belief
- Protects ego ("I didn't try hard, so failure doesn't mean I'm incapable")
Cultural:
- Praising "smartness" reinforces fixed mindset
- Celebrating prodigies, downplaying effort
What Growth Mindset Enables
| Fixed Mindset | Growth Mindset |
|---|---|
| Avoid challenges | Embrace challenges |
| Give up easily | Persist through setbacks |
| See effort as fruitless | See effort as path to mastery |
| Threatened by others' success | Inspired by others' success |
| Plateau early | Reach higher achievement |
Caveat: Growth mindset isn't magic. Effort alone insufficient—deliberate practice with feedback required.
Myth 7: Brain Training Games Improve General Intelligence
The Claim
Commercial promise:
- Brain training games (Lumosity, BrainAge, etc.) improve memory, attention, intelligence
- Benefits transfer to real-world tasks
- "Use it or lose it"—brain games prevent cognitive decline
The Evidence
Reality: Brain training games make you better at brain training games. Transfer to real-world cognitive ability is minimal to nonexistent.
Research findings:
| Study | Finding |
|---|---|
| Owen et al. (2010) | 11,430 participants: brain training improved trained tasks but no transfer to general cognition |
| Redick et al. (2013) | Working memory training doesn't improve fluid intelligence |
| Simons et al. (2016) | Consensus statement by 70+ scientists: claims about brain training lack scientific support |
| Federal Trade Commission (2016) | Fined Lumosity $2 million for deceptive advertising |
What happens:
- You get better at the specific game
- No improvement in job performance, academic achievement, real-world memory, reasoning
What Actually Improves Cognition
Evidence-based cognitive enhancement:
| Brain Training Games (weak evidence) | Actually Effective (strong evidence) |
|---|---|
| Generic puzzles | Learn a complex skill (language, instrument, programming) |
| Decontextualized tasks | Deliberate practice in domain (chess, math, writing) |
| 20 min/day games | Aerobic exercise: improves memory, executive function, brain volume |
| Passive brain stimulation | Social engagement: reduces cognitive decline |
| Solo app use | Adequate sleep: consolidates learning, clears metabolic waste |
Key difference: Real learning in complex domains creates transferable cognitive skills; isolated game practice doesn't.
Why Learning Myths Persist
Psychological Factors
| Factor | How It Perpetuates Myths |
|---|---|
| Confirmation bias | People notice evidence supporting beliefs, ignore contradicting evidence |
| Anecdotal evidence | "It worked for me" seems more compelling than aggregate data |
| Intuitive appeal | Simple explanations for complex processes feel right |
| Effort justification | Having invested in myth (time, money), motivated to believe it works |
Social Factors
| Factor | Effect |
|---|---|
| Authority figures promote myths | Teachers, parents, coaches repeat what they heard |
| Commercial interests | Companies profit from selling learning style assessments, brain games, etc. |
| Media amplification | Clickbait headlines ("Scientists discover you're left-brained!") spread myths |
| Myth spreads faster than correction | Exciting falsehood more viral than boring truth |
Institutional Inertia
Once embedded in institutions, myths are hard to dislodge:
- Teacher training includes learning styles
- Curricula designed around myths
- Investment in materials based on myths
- Admitting mistake threatens credibility
How to Identify Learning Myths
Red flags indicating pseudoscience:
| Warning Sign | Example |
|---|---|
| Oversimplification of complex process | "You're either visual or auditory learner" |
| Lack of peer-reviewed evidence | Testimonials instead of controlled studies |
| Commercial motive | Selling assessments, courses, products |
| Ignores contradicting evidence | "Studies show..." (cherry-picks supportive studies, ignores contradictions) |
| Appeals to neuroscience without specifics | "Brain science proves..." (vague, no mechanism) |
| Anecdotes instead of data | "I tried it and it worked!" |
| Unfalsifiable claims | No way to disprove the claim |
What Actually Works: Evidence-Based Learning
Strategies with strong research support:
| Strategy | Evidence Level | How It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Retrieval practice (testing effect) | Very strong | Actively recalling information strengthens memory |
| Spaced repetition | Very strong | Reviewing over time prevents forgetting |
| Elaboration | Strong | Connecting new information to existing knowledge |
| Interleaving | Strong | Mixing topics rather than blocking by topic |
| Concrete examples | Strong | Specific instances make abstract concepts understandable |
| Dual coding | Moderate-Strong | Combining verbal and visual information |
| Self-explanation | Strong | Explaining material to yourself in your own words |
Source: Dunlosky et al. (2013), "Improving Students' Learning With Effective Learning Techniques," Psychological Science in the Public Interest
Moving Beyond Myths
Individual level:
- Question intuition: Just because something feels right doesn't mean it works
- Demand evidence: Look for peer-reviewed research, not testimonials
- Try evidence-based techniques: Retrieval practice, spaced repetition, elaboration
- Be skeptical of commercial claims: If someone's selling it, check the science
Educational system level:
- Update teacher training: Replace myth-based content with evidence-based practices
- Communicate corrections: Actively debunk myths, don't just ignore them
- Implement proven strategies: Build retrieval practice, spacing, interleaving into curricula
- Evaluate outcomes: Measure what actually improves learning
Conclusion: The Cost of Clinging to Myths
Time wasted: Effort spent on ineffective techniques could be spent on proven methods
Money wasted: Learning style assessments, brain training subscriptions, matching curricula to styles
Opportunity cost: Using ineffective strategies means not using effective ones
Confidence misplaced: Thinking you're learning (because you used your "style" or crammed or multitasked) when you're not
The corrective: Base learning strategies on cognitive science, not intuition or marketing. Evidence exists. Use it.
References
Pashler, H., McDaniel, M., Rohrer, D., & Bjork, R. (2008). "Learning Styles: Concepts and Evidence." Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 9(3), 105–119.
Riener, C., & Willingham, D. (2010). "The Myth of Learning Styles." Change: The Magazine of Higher Learning, 42(5), 32–35.
Nielsen, J. A., Zielinski, B. A., Ferguson, M. A., Lainhart, J. E., & Anderson, J. S. (2013). "An Evaluation of the Left-Brain vs. Right-Brain Hypothesis with Resting State Functional Connectivity Magnetic Resonance Imaging." PLoS ONE, 8(8), e71275.
Ophir, E., Nass, C., & Wagner, A. D. (2009). "Cognitive Control in Media Multitaskers." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 106(37), 15583–15587.
Cepeda, N. J., Pashler, H., Vul, E., Wixted, J. T., & Rohrer, D. (2006). "Distributed Practice in Verbal Recall Tasks: A Review and Quantitative Synthesis." Psychological Bulletin, 132(3), 354–380.
Dunlosky, J., Rawson, K. A., Marsh, E. J., Nathan, M. J., & Willingham, D. T. (2013). "Improving Students' Learning With Effective Learning Techniques." Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 14(1), 4–58.
Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Random House.
Ericsson, K. A., Krampe, R. T., & Tesch-Römer, C. (1993). "The Role of Deliberate Practice in the Acquisition of Expert Performance." Psychological Review, 100(3), 363–406.
Owen, A. M., et al. (2010). "Putting Brain Training to the Test." Nature, 465(7299), 775–778.
Simons, D. J., et al. (2016). "Do 'Brain-Training' Programs Work?" Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 17(3), 103–186.
Karpicke, J. D., & Roediger, H. L. (2008). "The Critical Importance of Retrieval for Learning." Science, 319(5865), 966–968.
Kirschner, P. A., & van Merriënboer, J. J. G. (2013). "Do Learners Really Know Best? Urban Legends in Education." Educational Psychologist, 48(3), 169–183.
Corballis, M. C. (2014). "Left Brain, Right Brain: Facts and Fantasies." PLoS Biology, 12(1), e1001767.
Carrier, L. M., Rosen, L. D., Cheever, N. A., & Lim, A. F. (2015). "Causes, Effects, and Practicalities of Everyday Multitasking." Developmental Review, 35, 64–78.
Rogowsky, B. A., Calhoun, B. M., & Tallal, P. (2015). "Matching Learning Style to Instructional Method: Effects on Comprehension." Journal of Educational Psychology, 107(1), 64–78.
About This Series: This article is part of a larger exploration of learning, thinking, and expertise. For related concepts, see [How Memory Retention Works], [Why Most Learning Fails], [How to Build Real Expertise], and [Spaced Repetition Explained].