Librarian by Day » mind http://librarianbyday.net by Bobbi Newman Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:52:11 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 How Using The Internet Is Changing Our Brains http://librarianbyday.net/2009/12/01/how-using-the-internet-is-changing-our-brains/ http://librarianbyday.net/2009/12/01/how-using-the-internet-is-changing-our-brains/#comments Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:45:41 +0000 Bobbi Newman http://librarianbyday.net/?p=2535 As with most things, the benefits from computers and technology is all about balance. From an article in The Independent – What the web is teaching our brains, a list of activities and the benefits each provides. Internet research: Boosts the ability to integrate and process information as well as enhancing decision-making skills. General browsing: Encourages the use of continuous partial attention and multi-tasking, which can impair cognition and cause irritability Playing computer games: May improve multi-tasking skills, memory and peripheral vision. Can lead to antisocial behaviour. Building a blog or website: Building a blog or your own website improves frontal lobe function, reasoning and memory. Sorting email: Boosts information-processing functions in the brain’s frontal lobe. Can also cause stress. Using emoticons: Exercises brain centres linked to emotion and social connection; particularly beneficial to those who use computers for long periods. Tweeting and chatrooms: Enhances peripheral attention, helps to boost self-esteem and protects the hippocampus. The article includes more information on the “why” or how it works, and of course some negative aspects of internet & technology usage too. Worth reading: Facebook and Bebo risk ‘infantilising’ the human mind In Defense of Distraction Is Google Making Us Stupid? Gin, Television, [...]]]>
CC image used courtesy of Reigh LeBlanc on flickr

CC image used courtesy of Reigh LeBlanc on flickr

As with most things, the benefits from computers and technology is all about balance.

From an article in The Independent – What the web is teaching our brains, a list of activities and the benefits each provides.

  • Internet research: Boosts the ability to integrate and process information as well as enhancing decision-making skills.
  • General browsing: Encourages the use of continuous partial attention and multi-tasking, which can impair cognition and cause irritability
  • Playing computer games: May improve multi-tasking skills, memory and peripheral vision. Can lead to antisocial behaviour.
  • Building a blog or website: Building a blog or your own website improves frontal lobe function, reasoning and memory.
  • Sorting email: Boosts information-processing functions in the brain’s frontal lobe. Can also cause stress.
  • Using emoticons: Exercises brain centres linked to emotion and social connection; particularly beneficial to those who use computers for long periods.
  • Tweeting and chatrooms: Enhances peripheral attention, helps to boost self-esteem and protects the hippocampus.

The article includes more information on the “why” or how it works, and of course some negative aspects of internet & technology usage too.

Worth reading:

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