Notes from "Our Rewired Brains"

I recently read an article in Energy Times. Here are the highlights that I thought were especially noteworthy.

"If you repeat a stimulus, the neurocircuits that control that will strengthen; other areas will weaken."

"... in a state of continuous partical attention. ... a state in which our minds constantly search for any type of contact, to which we never fully pay attention. ... feeds egos and enhances our sense of self-worth. ... leading to a variation of stress that Small calls techno-brain burnout."

regarding social contact primarily online or digital such as facebook, myspace, twitter, and texting:

"... are devoid of cohesive narrative and long-term significance. As a consequence, the mid-21st century mind might almost be infantilized, characterized by short attention spans, sensationalism, inability to empathize and a shaky sense of identity." (British neuroscientist Susan Greenfield)

"We may ultimately develop similar guidelines ... for our consumption of technology as we do for our diet. Says Small: 'It's a question of knowing about the issues. Replace [elements of] the technology. Use it in moderation. Make sure you schedule off-line time. And enjoy it.'"

Balance? Moderation? Timeless principles persist.

There are many things I love about this digital age. I get to work remotely 95% of the time. I am connected (although loosely) to many more people than I would have been otherwise. But I think that there are some good warnings to notice. Nothing replaces a face to face lunch with a good friend. And nothing replaces being outside in the fresh air of spring time.

See the original article "Our Rewired Brains" in its entirety on the Energy Times web site.