Are Computers Altering Our Brains?
Posted by casey on 08-18-2008
With such a textbook-heavy load of classes during the school year, reading for pleasure is limited to a few magazine articles and the daily newspaper (online, of course - I haven't touched a paper paper in my life). Back in May, with a leisurely summer laying ahead of me, I stocked up on books, both classics that I have never gotten around to reading, and new novels that have recently made a splash on the bestseller list.
This past week as I was packing up to head back to school, I came to the shameful realization that in three whole months, I didn't read any of them. I began three out of six books, and my attention dwindled halfway through. If I had started and discarded one - maybe even two - then I would have been able to chalk it up to choosing boring books. But three out of six makes it impossible to deny that the problem lies with me.
A recent article from the BBC reassured me that I'm not alone in this inability to read a book from start to finish. I grew up in front of a computer and find myself cringing anytime progressive technology is blamed for developmental or behavioral problems, but after my own experience, I can't help but wonder if my computer reliance has something to do with the fact that it was so easy to sit down and read for hours in elementary school and yet now I hit a concentration wall after twenty minutes.
As the age at which children start to get familiar with computers and the net gets ever lower, questions are starting to be asked about what that exposure is doing to our children's brains and their ability to concentrate. These questions are ones which eminent neuroscientist Baroness Greenfield says needs to be confronted. The director of the Royal Institution says the "sensory-laden environment" of computers could result in people "staying in the world of the small child".
Baroness Greenfield also claims that the distinction has been lost between information and knowledge - with the facts provided by easy-accessed information losing the context necessary for knowledge. Her views are echoed by the writer Nicholas Carr in his recent essay "Is Google making us stupid?" that was published in Atlantic Monthly. In the article Mr Carr claims that his mind is changing as a result of greater computer use. "Deep reading that used to come naturally has become a struggle," he said.
What do you think about this? Do you struggle reading entire books, or do you still value more in-depth reading than what the web can offer?
August 18th, 2008 at 11:39 am
That article is so bogus. There have always been tons of people who don't like to read. I'm 25 and have been on the computer since I was in 3rd grade and the internet since 6th.
I love to read long books as much as I watch 3 minute youtube videos.
The thing these article never go in to is reading is work. It can be super fun but it's work that a lot of people don't like to do. I hear jogging is fun once you start.. but I've never started jogging regularly so I can't tell you for sure.
Reading used to be the only way to get entertainment. but this changed not with the computer but with the transistor radio and then TV.
Another thing never brought up by this article is how much reading you have to do on the computer. It's not long form narrative but it's reading. I'll bet if you compare the amount of reading a teen did in the 60s and 70s it would be less then a teen today. From text messages to youtube comments word for word we read more. The people who argue that youtube comments don't count as reading are the same people trying to get comic books out of libraries.
You don't like to read book? Big deal. Tons of people don't. When they were the only form of entertainment and information everyone had to read books. but now there is more forms of entertainment and information to suit people with different learning styles.
My brother hates to read. HATES IT. But he'll sit and listen to an audio book for hours (which would drive me crazy).
Ug… these people make me so angry!!
August 19th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
I agree…
I feel like I can't read past 20 minutes, cause I have grown up in front of a comp…
I love to read, and i love to finish books, but it is a struggle sometimes, and i do agree that being behind a computer through most of high school and college, and now in my work, i do find it hard to read for long periods of time…
i feel as if it has something to do with all the things that pop up on a screen, or the music i'm listening to, or whatever…
just my thoughts though