Internet Technology Changes Our Brain

I’m a reader. Who doesn’t love to curl up with a good novel? The problem is that I rarely have the time for it. But I also notice that my reading habits have changed. I don’t read so much as scan. I have become a voracious scanner. As it turns out, I am not alone. Technology changes the way we read.

When reading printed material, we read sentences from left to right beginning at the top of the page and moving to the bottom. But when reading digital material, it often appears in an F shape sequence. The F shape pattern allows our eyes to scan and pick out important words. Flashing advertisements, videos and photos cause our brains to be on the move, resulting in shorter attention spans. According to Marziali, “The brain that achieves high levels of functioning during task-switching and attention-shifting behaviors does so by sacrificing some of its abilities to concentrate deeply for extended periods of time.”

I hate to admit it, but I turn to technology the first thing in the morning and the last thing at night. I reach for my phone or IPad early mornings for a game of solitaire, check emails or to check out facebook. I feel more alert when my brain is engaged. In the evenings, it is my way to relax, catch up with friends, and keep current on news events. Whether it is my turn at Solitaire or I’m notified of a facebook message, these activities are “reward cues” that make me restless and keeps me coming back. The anticipation triggers dopamine in the brain, causing me to check again and again.

For people who rely on texting as a means of communication, it is found that texting can impair your reading and writing ability. The average number of words used by texters is more limited. They are less able to understand new words, and are less willing to accept new words, compared to people who read printed material.

The internet allows immediate access to knowledge, but it changes how we absorb information and changes our memory. Instead of recalling information itself, we are more likely to recall where or how to find the information.

I may have lost some ability for deep and sustain concentration, but my knowledge base has widened as I scan one topic to another. And social media exposes me to subjects that I would not normally seek out. And the internet has a positive function. A UCLA study showed increased brain activity, complex reasoning, and more advanced decision-making skills. Dr. Gary Small said “Internet searching engages complicated brain activity, which may help exercise and improve brain function.” This is a benefit for middle aged and older adults.