Technology has made us think differently, feel differently, even dream differently. They affect our memory, attention, and sleep cycles. This is due to a scientific phenomenon known as neuroplasticity - the ability of the brain to change habitual behavior based on new experiences. In this case, these are interactive technologies and a huge amount of information coming from the Internet.
Some experts believe that modern technologies have a positive effect on us, organizing our lives, and free their heads from routine processes to think about more important processes. Others fear that technology has crippled our focus, made us impatient, and robbed us of our creativity. Each study on this issue is fiercely debated, but at the same time, with each such study, we are getting one step closer to understanding how technology affects our brains.
Below are 8 major changes in people that are caused by modern technology.
1. We see colored dreams
Television influences a person so strongly that it even affects sleep. In 2008, a study from the University of Dundee in Scotland found that adults over the age of 55 who grew up in the black and white era are more likely to have black and white dreams. But younger study participants who grew up in the era of technicolor almost always see their dreams in color. The American Psychology Association reaffirmed the results of this study in 2011.
2. We test FOMO
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FOMO (fear of missing out; originally FOMO stands for fear of missing out) is defined by The New York Times as "a mixture of anxiety, inadequacy and irritation that can erupt while we browse social media."
Before the advent of Instagram and Facebook, people who decided to spend a quiet Saturday night at home with a glass of wine in the company of an old favorite movie might feel a little regret that they had not got out of the house and might have missed something. But thanks to social media, this feeling has increased significantly. in endless feeds we constantly see posts with photos of various gatherings, fun dinners, crazy parties and the flowing rivers of alcohol on them. Even if such a vacation is absolutely not interesting for you, you still think: "Maybe I should do something else now?" This is FOMO.
There is even evidence that looking at pictures of friends' food on Instagram and Pinterest, our food seems tasteless to us.
3. "False vibration syndrome"
We are constantly in a state of heightened sensitivity to our mobile phones, so much so that we often confuse when it calls and when it doesn't. In 2012, a study published in the journal Computers and Human Behavior found that 89% of the 290 students who participated in the experiment experienced "false vibration syndrome" (the physical sensation that their phone was vibrating even when it wasn’t). in two weeks. A study of hospital workers showed the same results.
Research psychologist Larry Rosen in an interview with NPR suggests that physical sensations, like itching, may now be misinterpreted by our brains as a vibrating phone. “Our brain retrains and reacts differently not the same sensations as before,” says the scientist. And although the "false vibration syndrome" does not cause any serious consequences or problems, it still seems to be something bizarre and unusual.
4. We cannot sleep
We are technophiles, accustomed to falling asleep in bed with laptops to the soothing melodious BBC series about the nature of China or the 4th episode to a series of some uncomplicated series, some of us can end the day reading the chapter of The Hunger Games on their iPad, some - without adding sms. But these comforting evening routines may actually be the first links in the chain of our sleep, such a part of the pattern.
Neurologists suggest that the light of the screens of laptops, tablets and smartphones causes disagreements in our body, in particular, affects the production of sleeping hormones. Exposure to bright light can trick the brain into thinking it's still day, which could potentially have long-term effects on the body's circadian rhythms (our internal sleep clocks). Our eyes are especially sensitive to blue light emitted from screens. This makes it much more difficult to fall asleep, especially for those who are already struggling with insomnia.
(Oh, God … This is the reason for "freezing" in social networks! Facebook, Vkontakte … They are all BLUE!)
5. Our memory is poor, as is the concentration of attention
In ancient times, learning by heart was an extremely valuable skill. So valuable that students could often read entire books from memory. In our era of Google, when almost any piece of information can be instantly available, we absolutely do not worry about storing or memorizing any facts, let alone entire books. Why memorize the capital of Mozambique when you can simply ask Siri?
In 2007, a neuroscientist surveyed 3,000 people and found that younger respondents were less likely to remember common personal information, such as a relative's birthday or even their own phone number. Likewise, studies have shown that calculators can reduce simple math skills. Some people cannot navigate their cities without GPS assistance.
Social media and the Internet in general also reduce our focus. People immersed in digital media find it difficult to read books for extended periods of time, they often just skim over the article rather than reading every word. This phenomenon can be especially troubling for young people, whose brains are still in the formation stage and therefore may not be able to develop concentration skills.
6. We have improved visual skills
A 2013 study found that first-person shooters like Halo and Unreal Tournament enhance decision-making and visual skills. These games force players to make quick decisions based on visual cues, which enhances visual-spatial attention skills, or the ability to analyze information about our physical environment. Gamers are also better at detecting contrast between objects in dim lighting. And complex strategies like Starcraft can improve the brain's “cognitive flexibility” or the ability to switch between tasks, thereby increasing the controversial ability of a person to multitask. This was especially noticeable when experimenting with older people.
7. But control over impulsivity has decreased
Unfortunately, the same 2013 study of video games like Halo found it difficult for players to curb impulsive or aggressive behavior. The researchers concluded that by forcing players to make quick decisions in situations of violence, their "active executive control" - the reaction of the knee reflex and other impulses - is inhibited. This has led scientists to argue that these players are more prone to immediate hostility or aggression in real life.
8. We create more
Technology has become more accessible to creative people and everyone else who interacts with them. Author Clay Shirkei argues that the Internet amplifies what he calls "cognitive surplus" - the excess brain capacity that we can allocate to achieve goals that bring us satisfaction. Social media, according to Shirkey, offers users to interact with texts, images and videos in a way that television cannot. Social media fosters a culture of sharing, with users becoming more inclined to create and share information, whether it's a Flickr album, a popular book review, a Wikipedia add-on, or a DIY project.
“As soon as we stop thinking about this time in the context of killing free time, and start thinking about it as a kind of social asset, then the accumulation of such an asset among the educated population of the planet can be a trillion man-hours a year,” Shirkey writes.
(But really, if you collect all this pointlessly wasted time and energy in the network and direct it to something useful, the result could be higher than all expectations)