In some ways, technology has changed our brain for the better but in other ways it has changed it for the worse. Technology has changed our minds in hundreds of ways, but there are some ways that seem to be most frequent or most significant.
Dundee University, in Scotland, discovered that colored television has caused those who have experienced it their entire lives to dream in color. This finding was supported by The American Psychological Association in 2011.
The New York Times defined a new idea, known as FOMO (fear of missing out), as "the blend of anxiety, inadequacy or irritation that can flare up while skimming social media." Technology has allowed us to let others see what we are doing constantly, and if one person is doing something more exciting than someone else, they may acquire that feeling of missing out.
Cell phones have developed the "phantom vibration syndrome," and have caused many people to lose sleep. People have a feeling that their phone is going off even when it isn't because it is buzzing so frequently throughout the course of a day. At night, when its finally time to escape from technology, many struggle to separate themselves from the temptations of skimming, scrolling, and searching.
Our memory and attention span have been deterred because we are so dependent on our technology. Also, we know that at the touch of a finger we can access something else, and with so much to be seen no one wants to spend more then five minutes reading about the same thing.
Technology has created stronger visual skills through video games, but they have also caused many people to have less impulse control. Video games, especially war games, require quick and concise decisions but when someone loses it causes their blood to boil and makes it very easy to have impulsive actions of anger and frustration.
Finally, concluding with a positive idea, technology allows us to be more creative. The internet let's people share ideas with others, find new ideas, and test the waters... or rather social medias to see what people think about your work.
Whether we realize it or not technology changes us physically, mentally, and emotionally. All we can do is give our strongest effort to let it bring out the best in us, and not expose the worst.
For more information regarding technology and its effects on the brain, check out: http://mashable.com/2014/03/14/tech-brains-neuroplasticity/
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ReplyDeleteTechnology is a great thing, but it is definitely having a serious impact on our behavior and the way we think. I think the key to enjoying technology, as with enjoying anything, is moderation. We've grown so accustomed to having technology around us at all times that for those brief periods when it isn't, often times we are scared or frustrated. That's why technology addiction is becoming a bigger and bigger problem among the population.
ReplyDeleteThere is certainly a direct connection between technology and the way are brain works and its hard to tell at times if that is good or bad.
ReplyDelete"FOMO (fear of missing out), as "the blend of anxiety, inadequacy or irritation that can flare up while skimming social media" ---> first time I heard the term FOMO. There are constantly times when I don't have my phone for a little bit of the day and I just get this feeling that I need to check my Timeline.
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