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The Biochemistry of Searching the Internet

Posted by Soulskill on from the how-much-of-your-life-has-wikipedia-claimed dept.

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."

6 of 63 comments (clear)

  1. First post by BadAnalogyGuy · · Score: 3, Funny

    First Post!

  2. Re:First reply by BadAnalogyGuy · · Score: 5, Funny

    First reply!

    Endorphins looping!

  3. Re:First reply by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    First mod parent up post !

    This IS better than sex.

  4. Re:First reply by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Oh god are you trolling me ?
    Trolling ?
    OH GOD YES YES TROLL MORE !

  5. Re:My name is Anonymous Coward by maxwell+demon · · Score: 3, Funny

    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.
  6. outlaw thinking by bugi · · Score: 3, Funny

    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?