Whenever a new technology is introduced, there’s always a bit of anxiety about how it will effect us.
Back in 2007, Dr. Gary Small, a professor of psychiatry at UCLA, wanted to know what the brain looks like when it searches for something online for the first time.
So he and Dr. Susan Brookheimer did a study: using an fMRI machine, they looked at the brain and how it functions when a person is using a search engine vs. reading a book.
They gathered 24 people —12 who had little experience with search engines and 12 who were quite web savvy. (It’s amazing that even in 2007, the researchers were able to find people who weren’t frequently using google.)
Here’s what they found:
Internet searching engaged a greater amount of neural circuitry that is not activated during reading — but only in those with prior Internet experience.
The brain isn’t necessarily more conscious or “better” when it’s searching online — but it is activating areas in the front of the brain that are associated with decision-making. This makes sense because when you’re searching online, you have to seek out and choose the relevant information.
The minimal brain activation found in the “net naive” group may be because the Internet task was unfamiliar to them. They didn’t quite know the strategies needed to successfully engage in a Google search.
“With more time on the Internet, they may demonstrate the same brain
activation patterns as the more experienced group,” Small said.
Small
noted that pursuing activities that keep the mind engaged may help
preserve brain health and cognitive ability. Traditionally, these
include games such as crossword puzzles, but with the advent of
technology, scientists are beginning to assess the influence of computer
use — including the Internet.
