Technology and the Brain: ysabetwordsmith

Technology and the Brain

I found this article interesting, but I have mixed feelings. I can understand a certain amount of concern about too much exposure to technology, but ...

Scientists Fear Technology May Be Rewiring Our Brains

When the brain spends more time on technology-related tasks and less time exposed to other people, it drifts away from fundamental social skills like reading facial expressions during conversation, Small asserts.

So brain circuits involved in face-to-face contact can become weaker, he suggests. That may lead to social awkwardness, an inability to interpret nonverbal messages, isolation and less interest in traditional classroom learning.

... this really sounds like the anti-bookworm propaganda some teachers heaped on me when I was younger, because I preferred the company of books to that of the banal little beasts they called my classmates. And while I've got some nearby friends, frankly I prefer the company of online folks to most of the locals, because the Midwest is not exactly a hotbed of culture and brilliance. The scientists may have a point in there somewhere, but if they want to sell it to intellectuals, boy howdy they'd better find a better way to phrase it.

fayanora

December 11 2008, 05:43:50 UTC 12 years ago

New comment

Anti-Asperger's propaganda! BOO! HISS! It could also be considered anti-introvert propaganda.

If it wasn't technology aspies/geeks focused on, it would be something else. But still not other people.

Hmm...

ysabetwordsmith

December 11 2008, 05:50:30 UTC 12 years ago

Another thought occurred to me, from the perspective of incarnation: Souls are drawn to congruent environments, more often than not. There are souls whose affinity inclines towards technology, in ways that make them well adapted to handling machines and poorly adapted to handling people. What if the technology isn't shaping people that way, but rather attracting people who are that way to be born here in larger numbers?