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The Biochemistry of Searching the Internet
Slate is running a story about how searching the internet and keeping up with events through instant communication can fulfill biochemical needs within our brains. Research has shown that anticipation and simply "wanting" can stimulate dopamine production in the brain, and an internet full of answers plays right into that. Quoting:
"For humans, this desire to search is not just about fulfilling our physical needs. Panksepp says that humans can get just as excited about abstract rewards as tangible ones. He says that when we get thrilled about the world of ideas, about making intellectual connections, about divining meaning, it is the seeking circuits that are firing. ... The dopamine circuits 'promote states of eagerness and directed purpose,' Panksepp writes. It's a state humans love to be in. So good does it feel that we seek out activities, or substances, that keep this system aroused — cocaine and amphetamines, drugs of stimulation, are particularly effective at stirring it."
First Post!
First reply!
Endorphins looping!
First mod parent up post !
This IS better than sex.
And I'm spent.
Oh god are you trolling me ?
Trolling ?
OH GOD YES YES TROLL MORE !
Searching fulfills the dopamine drive in our brains..... Why do I think that Rule 34 applies here?
Whatever man! My inerenet has been DOWN for hours and I need some INFORMATION!!! I need it NOW! Goddamn it! Now, get the fuck out of the way!!
I wish there was some sort of fucking patch I can put on my fucking arm when my interweb is DOWN or Wellbutrin or something man!. Jesus Mother Fucking Christ!
For humans, this desire to search is not just about fulfilling our physical needs.
errr, yes it is?
First congrats post for using both you're and your correctly in the same sentence
First FTFY post!
Damn, you made me to google for rule 34! And that after having read how dangerous seeking is!
The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
Well, I can tell you, Google addiction is nothing against Slashdot addiction. Be glad that you are not on Slashdot. Oh, wait, you are!
The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
"He says that when we get thrilled about the world of ideas, about making intellectual connections, about divining meaning, it is the seeking circuits that are firing"
Hmmm... Intellectual Connections, Nope, That doesn't explain facebook or twitter... NEXT!
--- Relax, that mass muderer is just trying to reduce our carbon footprint, one fetus at a time...
Thanks for spoiling it for the rest of us. Now intellectual pursuits such as searching for a cure for cancer will be outlawed.
If people aren't even free to piss away their own money, do you really think we'll be free for much longer to get high on thoughts? Let me guess, thinking leads to harder drugs?
So where is your secret cache of googling-porn.... . I'm not talking about searching images with safe search off, I'm talking about streaming screen captures of a particularly skilled googler performing complex searches tying together some disparate bits of web info into a coherent world view. . Mmmmm googly!
Wherever You Go, There You Are
First reply!
Endorphins looping!
Burma Shave!
zOMG guys! If this research is right, then that means someone could probably make money by writing a software app that does nothing but entertain people by exploiting this brain response! Like, instead of an app that is an electronic spreadsheet, an app that lets you shoot people in the face and beat up hookers. Even though there's no useful output, I bet people would totally BUY IT!!!
but have you considered the following argument: shut up.