Insanium in the Cranium

Our brains are meant to change. It is in our nature to change and adapt to new conditions and experiences. In this current age our brains and our sociality are adapting to the Internet and all it holds. As Horstman points out in “Brave New Brain” these changes include: greater connectivity, interactive learning, heightened visual senses, faster neural shifting, and shorthand communication. Studies have also shown that frequent use of the Internet can lead to shorter attention spans. So we know what the Internet does to our brain, now the question becomes, is it a bad thing?

I say no, these are not negative affects nor are they necessarily positive. They are just changes. We sit in front the computer screen for hours because it is a terrific tool for everything from scholarly research to just passive entertainment. We can essentially now live an entire life plugged into a computer. As “Digital Nation” shows some kids literally spend almost all of their waking hours online socializing, learning, and creating digital experiences. Some would say that this isn’t actually living, and in a traditional sense it is not. However, throughout history, traditions have changed, therefore being so wired and connected could become the legacy we pass on to our children.

Speaking in terms of physical affects to our brain the Internet once again has an influence. Our Brain creates neural pathways to suit the various ways in which we absorb information. With the webs multimedia abilities we are stimulating all of those connections in one place. Our brain is immeasurably malleable so that even a so-called “digital immigrant’s” brain is able to quickly adapt to the way in which information is presented online. In studies it has been seen that using the Internet stimulates the memory centers of our brain as well as those that control decision-making. In seems then that the World Wide Web is not dumbing us down but in fact working our brains harder. On a Final note, I find it interesting that all of the changes that have been imposed on us originate from a human creation. We created it and now we are molding ourselves around it.