Lucy (2014)

Introduction

Lucy (2014) is a science fiction action movie written and directed by Luc Besson. According to the writers of the movie “Lucy,” humans only use 10% of their brain capacity, the movie explores what would happen if a human could use 100% of their brain. In the film, Scarlett Johansson, who played the character Lucy, gets involved in a drug deal where she is forced to transport the drug CPH4. CPH4 is a drug that enhances brain capacity, and as the drug gets leaked into her bloodstream, her brain capacity increases more than the average 10%, and she starts to experience different abilities such as absorbing vast amounts of knowledge, telekinesis,  and eventually reaching a complete understanding of the universe. As Lucy’s brain capacity increases, she starts to gain knowledge about human evolution, consciousness, and the universe. All in a while, she is also trying to tackle the antagonist, the drug lord, trying to capture her; she is also trying to share her knowledge with humankind before she ceases to exist in her physical form. At the end of the movie, Lucy reaches 100% brain capacity and becomes a god-like existence, with the ending line being “I am everywhere.” The movie was released in July 2014 and was produced by Europacorp. It is owned by the writer of the film, Luc Besson, and his wife, Virginie Besson Silla. Luc finished writing the screenplay in 2013, and the shooting wrapped up in November of 2013. It was shot in locations like Taipei, New York, and Paris. This movie was a hit, according to the box office. It grossed over $469 million dollars against its budget of $40 million dollars. However, it faced criticism over its portrayal of brain capacity as it was deemed as pseudoscience. Nevertheless, it was a hit. 

Methods

The science behind the movie Lucy has fictional and non-fictional aspects that are parallel to our real world. As the synthetic drugs progress within her bloodstream, the movie’s concept involves the idea that humans only use ten percent of their brain usage, as for her, she begins to use more and more. However, this notion is a myth. Neuroscientists debunked this idea, clarifying that humans do in fact use 100% of their brain capacity, just not all at once. As Lucy begins to unlock more of her brain’s potential, she then gains extraordinary abilities, such as enhanced cognition, telepathy, and time perception. The film incorporates her fictional abilities to explore the ideas of philosophical questions of consciousness, the limits of human potential, and the implications of such powers expressed. Furthermore, the movie touches on the real scientific concepts and theories of neuroplasticity but stretches these ideas to the extreme for dramatic effect. The blend of these concepts creates a thrilling narrative for viewers, inviting them to ponder the possibilities of human evolution despite the strict scientific inaccuracy. The world of, “Lucy”, differs from our own primarily through the basis of heightened exploration of human consciousness and the consequences of unlocking that potential. 

These fundamental differences include the drug effects, which have philosophical implications that dramatically enhanced Lucy’s brain functions and physiology, granting her extraordinary powers and abilities to manipulate atoms, space, and time, which exceed the current scientific understanding of pharmacology and amplified the surreal nature of her metaphysical experiences. In addition, the enhanced brain capacity touches on the idea that accessing greater percentages of brain capabilities leads to superhuman powers such as telekinesis and advanced cognition, which in reality, can not happen. Lastly, the way the drug trade is depicted in the movie, along with what characters do to control or take advantage of Lucy’s powers, creates a more intense and dramatic effect than we normally encounter in real life. 

Results

The movie Lucy introduces the premise that humans utilize 10% of their brain capacity. The origin of this myth is unclear; however, some people attribute it to the work of the psychologist William James. James’ work discusses human potential in terms of motivation and self-improvement. He did not indicate that humans only use 10% of their brains. The myth most likely emerged through a combination of misunderstanding and oversimplification of James’ work and that of others in the field of neuroscience. 

Humans use 100% of their brain capacity every day. In the article, The human brain in numbers: A linearly scaled-up primate brain, Suzana Herculano-Houzel indicates that “the human brain is highly metabolically active, using up to 20% of the body’s energy, despite accounting for only about 2% of its weight”. The brain’s high energy consumption demonstrates the constant need for fuel due to its critical role in maintaining numerous functions even when an individual is unconscious. Various research utilizing techniques such as positron emission tomography (PET) scans of the human brain demonstrate neuronal activation across the brain even while sleeping. In the study Learned Motor Patterns Are Replayed in Human Motor Cortex During Sleep, Daniel B Rubin demonstrates that the brain is highly active during sleep, explicitly processing information from the day and consolidating these into memories. The human brain can do impressive things, but nothing compared to what Lucy’s brain does in the movie.

Another topic displayed in the movie is the misconception of the use and effect of brain-enhancing drugs, also known as nootropics. Nootropics are utilized to improve memory, attention, learning, and other executive functions (Malík, Matěj, et al. 2022). In the movie, Lucy is under the influence of the fictional nootropic drug CPH4, which not only heightens her senses and brain function but also grants her superpowers. CPH4 allows Lucy to control matter, space, and time in ways that are not possible and violate physical and biological laws. While nootropics may temporarily boost certain cognitive functions, these will not defy scientific laws. Various studies researching the effects of nootropics on healthy individuals have shown minimal or inconclusive results . Nootropics may cause more harm than good. These substances have been linked to cardiovascular issues, psychological problems,  and addictive behavior (Schifano, Fabrizio et al. 2022). As of now, there have not been sufficient experimental studies and results to support the prophylactic use of nootropics for improving brain functioning. 

During the period the movie was released, significant strides were made in the neuroscience and biotechnology industry to develop new technologies. At the time, CRISPR/Cas9, a powerful gene editing tool, had just been released, and the world was fascinated, as described by Jennifer Doubna in her article Genome-editing revolution: My whirlwind year with CRISPR for Nature. Other technologies, such as Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs), quickly emerged. BCIs technology acquires brain signals, analyzes them, and translates them into commands that are relayed to an output device carrying out desired actions (Shih, Jerry J et al. 2012). Both of these technologies were developed to assist individuals with medical conditions. However, there were concerns about the future of this technology and the ethics of utilizing it in healthy humans for self-improvement. The film Lucy explores these concerns, showcasing Lucy’s evolution as her brain capacity augments with CPH4. The superpowers Lucy exhibits throughout the movie, such as telecommunication, telekinesis, and genetic manipulations, are exaggerations that go beyond what these technologies can accomplish. The science presented in Lucy is not grounded in facts but concerns, myths, and speculations of the time.

Discussion

At its core, Lucy is about the potential of the human mind and the implications of unlocking it. It reflects on how humans are constrained by their biological limits and how surpassing them could lead to new forms of existence, even beyond physical reality. The film questions what makes us human and explores themes of time, knowledge, and evolution. As Lucy’s brain power increases, she loses her attachment to her physical body, suggesting that the more knowledge one gains, the less they are bound to human limitations.

Science fiction allows Lucy to explore these themes in a way that pushes beyond the constraints of reality. The genre allows the film to explore questions such as, “What if humans could access 100% of their brain?” and “What if time could be manipulated?” without being bound by the rules of biology or physics. Additionally, because it is a science fiction movie, it makes complex philosophical ideas, such as ones about the ethics of surpassing biological limitations, accessible to general audiences.

One of the main takeaways from the film is the idea that superhuman intelligence comes at a cost. As Lucy gains knowledge, she loses her humanity, becoming increasingly detached from emotional connections. In this way, the film reflects on the implications of scientific advancement, asking whether it’s worth sacrificing fundamental aspects of our identity for the sake of progress. It warns viewers about the dangers of trying to control forces that are beyond our comprehension. Ultimately, Lucy reminds us that the pursuit of knowledge must be approached with an awareness of the dangers it may pose.

Citations:

Herculano-Houzel, Suzana. “The human brain in numbers: a linearly scaled-up primate brain.” Frontiers in human neuroscience vol. 3 31. 9 Nov. 2009, doi:10.3389/neuro.09.031.2009

Rubin, Daniel B., et al. “Learned Motor Patterns Are Replayed in Human Motor Cortex during Sleep.” Journal of Neuroscience, vol. 42, no. 25, 22 June 2022, pp. 5007-5020, https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2074-21.2022.

Malík, Matěj, and Pavel Tlustoš. “Nootropics as Cognitive Enhancers: Types, Dosage and Side Effects of Smart Drugs.” Nutrients, vol. 14, no. 16, 2022, article 3367, https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14163367.

Schifano, Fabrizio et al. “Benefits and Harms of ‘Smart Drugs’ (Nootropics) in Healthy Individuals.” Drugs vol. 82,6 (2022): 633-647. doi:10.1007/s40265-022-01701-7

Doudna, Jennifer. “Genome-Editing Revolution: My Whirlwind Year with Crispr.” Nature, vol. 528, no. 7583, 2015, pp. 469-71, doi:10.1038/528469a.
Shih, Jerry J et al. “Brain-computer interfaces in medicine.” Mayo Clinic proceedings vol. 87,3 (2012): 268-79. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2011.12.008