The Internet vs. The Brain

I have been reading some interesting articles from a LIS feed I subscribe to called "Library Link of the Day." Two that jumped out concerned the connection between internet technology and cognitive functioning. This issue has been a chief concern for many years and looks to continue to stay in the spotlight for the foreseeable future. The first article suggests some positive effects of technology use, while the second offers a less rosy view.


1) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7667610.stm

According to BBC News, a UCLA research team has discovered that internet searching may help stimulate brain activity. According to the study, web searching actually proved to be a more stimulating activity than reading due to the choices and complex thought inherent in using the internet. However, that difference was only observable in individuals who were somewhat skilled internet users. Still, this study offers an alternative to the popular idea that the internet is rotting Americans' brains.


2) http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95524385

In a less optimistic article, NPR examines the effects of technology and multitasking on brain efficacy in teenagers. Although researchers acknowledge a dearth of data, they state that multitasking tends to lessen the ability of individuals to do any one task effectively. Researcher David Meyer describes the effect of multitasking as a "brownout in the brain." While the brain does not entirely shut down, its power is dimmed. A person starts to rapidly lose the power to maintain strong cognitive connections. For example, a teenager might focus on chemistry homework for a few minutes, then IM her friend, return to her homework, check her e-mail, play a computer game, and finally finish that chemistry work. This teenager will not retain the chemistry knowledge she learned very well because the neural links were so frequently interrupted. Obviously, technology makes multitasking very easy and tempting for current students, and this article points to some of the hazards involved with that.