How Internet Manipulates our Brain Functioning
Channel: STUDIO de CONTINUUM
Date: 2021-07-18

Most widespread and readily adopted human technology ever, Internet can produce functional or anatomical changes in the brain neuro-architecture. Here are some Quick Facts :-

Over a period of less than 3 decades, internet has grabbed more than 4 billion users. 

Prolonged interaction with some specific contents of the internet or internet as a whole can lead to characteristics of addictive behaviour. 

Internet users are often involved in media multitasking and are found to switch quickly between online activities. 

Internet users perform poor in a distracting environment and require a greater cognitive effort to ignore distractions and focus on a task.

Internet using students were found to be more impulsive, hyperactive and distracted.

Even short-term online activity in an extensively hyperlinked digital environment, such as online shopping for 15 minutes, produced a sustained reduced attentional scope after returning offline.

Internet use in children and adolescents impair cognitive enhancement and has been associated with poor language development and executive functioning.

Internet users most often remember the destination of their stored information rather than the information itself.  

Soft tech companies associated with the internet have exploited the addictive nature of the digital world by creating a highly amiable user interface with engaging content to hook users for longer without any regards to their well-being.

Research studies have shown that it’s easier to recall information gathered from a printed encyclopedia as compared to the facts retrieved online. 

Online data searching and digitilized fact compilation fails to sufficiently recruit brain regions involved in long-term memory formation.

.Research studies found that the number of Facebook friends were significantly associated with amygdala volume. 

A paradoxical finding indicated that regular internet and social media consumption increases the feeling of social isolation and loneliness.

 Ref:- 

https://wexnermedical.osu.edu/blog/how-internet-affects-your-brain#:~:text=Since%20using%20the%20internet%20often,cognitive%20task%20for%20extended%20times
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/06/190605100345.htm
Twenge JM, Campbell WK. Associations between screen time and lower psychological well-being among children and adolescents: Evidence from a population-based study. Prev Med Rep. 2018;12:271-283. Published 2018 Oct 18. doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2018.10.003
Joseph Firth, John Torous, Brendon Stubbs, Josh A. Firth, Genevieve Z. Steiner, Lee Smith, Mario Alvarez‐Jimenez, John Gleeson, Davy Vancampfort, Christopher J. Armitage, Jerome Sarris. The “online brain”: how the Internet may be changing our cognition. World Psychiatry, 2019; 18 (2): 119 DOI: 10.1002/wps.20617

Gary W. Small, MD; Jooyeon Lee, MD; Aaron Kaufman, MD; Jason Jalil, MD; Prabha Siddarth, PhD; Himaja Gaddipati, DO, ScM; Teena D. Moody, PhD; Susan Y. Bookheimer Brain health consequences of digital technology use  PhDDialogues Clin Neurosci. 2020;22(2):179-187. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2020.22.2/gsmall

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