Slashdot Mirror
Study: Multimedia Multitasking May Be Shrinking Human Brains
An anonymous reader writes It seems that switching between laptop, smart phone and tablet may be shrinking our brains and leaving us prone to higher levels of anxiety and stress reports new research from the University of Sussex in the UK. The researchers point out that the link is currently a correlation rather than a proof of causation, but they do suggest that people who used a higher number of media devices concurrently also had smaller grey matter density — in other words they have smaller brains.
Web developers need to test their websites on desktops, laptops, tablets and smartphones all day long. We're as good as hot dog water sunshine, bread blue?
Get free satoshi (Bitcoin) and Dogecoins
This story/theme seems to get posted at least once a year. Does that make it truthier? And given the benefits of this electronic crap; is the tradeoff worth it?
Moths are attracted to bright lights, and they have very small brains. I'm seeing some kind of correlation here......
why PC-only gamers are the master race
This idea that multitasking and short attention spans have a negative impact on cognition is not new. It goes back at least to Nicholas Carr's 2008 magazine article that served as the basis for his book The Shallows .
I think there are philosophical issues here. While the human biological organism might be "getting stupider", if our electronic devices are seen as augmentations, then doesn't our total cyborg person remain just as intelligent? That is, people have not become stupider, they have just moved some information processing from the brains in their skull to the devices in their heads.
The appearance of emotional issues might be a serious problem, but on the other hand, let's see how future generations who grow up with electronics from their infancy feel.
...had smaller grey matter density â" in other words they have smaller brains.
That's not synonymous at all.
Though it has been suggested by some that you cannot work out your brain to improve its performance, I have never believed this to be the case.
In my experience, constant problem solving improves one's cognitive abilities.
Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.
Ernest Hemingway
What's your problem, have a bad vacation on Crete or something? Did they use multimedia devices to shrink your brain, or did you shrink it all on your own? How do you know the Cretins did it? Did find you a note you left yourself from when you were still functional?
From the summary: ... had smaller grey matter density — in other words they have smaller brains.
That is NOT what density means. Density is an intrinsic property, and does not in any way imply smaller size.
Also, the correlation between brain size and intelligence is very weak.
Girls between 20 and 24 seem to be seriously addicted to smart phones. I'm seeing them totally disabled and unable to stop and staying on those phones 24/7 and missing sleep and abandoning work and school and even skipping bathing to spend more time on their smart phones. We might as well open the rehabs now as a tide of these young women is about to become a huge problem. It is today's version of the video game addicts of a few years ago.
Porn shrinks your brain
Lack of sleep shrinks your brain
Multi-tasking shrinks your brain
Religion shrinks your brain
Fat shrinks your brain
Elevated Blood Sugar shrinks your brain
Stress shrinks your brain
Aging shrinks your brain
Alcohol shrinks your brain
Vegetarianism shrinks your brain
Type 2 diabetes shrinks your Brain
Cell phones shrink your brain
I think medical fear mongering is shrinking our brains.
And yes, I did search for "Climate Change is shrinking our brains." No hits. So there you go MSM; a perfectly good theme that no one has used yet.
...is here. This is not news. For proof, just walk along the average school route during the morning rush, kids everywhere aren't talking, they've got their faces firmly planted in Candy Crush on their super-flexible brand new hot pink iphones while their parents fight for parking spots as close to the gates as they think it's possible to get and still be able to open the doors (failing which the kids are pushed out through the sunroof). Technology and in particular Facebook has killed the art of communication and social media in general has turned the connected generation into a bunch of ignorant cunts. And woe betide the first one of you whippersnappers who clicks "Like"!
Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel
Ok, this is getting a little ridicules but it appears people are not even willing to copy/paste article titles. Brains are not "shrinking". Part of brain associated with certain traits, like cognition is,
Higher media multi-tasking activity is associated with smaller gray-matter density in the anterior cingulate cortex
If you have no CLUE what "anterior cingulate cortex", you can't just delete it and substitute BRAIN in its place.
So how about "Multimedia Multitasking Associated with Structural Changes in the Brain" ?? "The Brain" didn't shrink. That specific cortex shrunk. As to what it doesn, it's in the article too!
It should be "Is Multimedia Multitasking Shrinking Human Brains?".
I agree, I do think it's all about the activities done on these "smart devices". I doubt
somebody reading ebooks on his tablet is getting dumber. These test was probably filled with "media consumers".
That new generation of couch potatoes.
what about those who have multiple screens. run music and tv all while going through 100's of email and making comments on slashdot?
Hurrrr! Get off my lawn!
-73, de n1ywb
www.n1ywb.com
I, Damaramu, shall regret this...
Wow, didn't know something like that would be possible.