The BBC has written that the truth is that everything you do changes your brain. Every little thought or experience you have plays a role in the constant wiring and rewiring of your neural networks. And so it is clear that the internet is rewiring your brain. However, so is everything else you do. Your life, regardless of how you live it, leaves traces in the brain. In an article on Feb. 11, 2013, Alvaro Fernandez has reported for WIRED, Is the Internet Good or Bad for Your Brain?
The so-called “Flynn Effect." or the sustained increase in raw IQ scores since the 1930s, has suggested that, if anything, the impact of technology on the population at large has been more positive, or at least neutral, than it has been negative. However, every new technology presents a fair set of challenges. The constant flow of information can be overwhelming and can lead to “paralysis by analysis.” Chronic multi-tasking often makes us less productive, not more. Furthermore, increased choices and uncertainty can lead to increased stress and anxiety. It is significant to note that these are quasi-universal features of life in our modern world, not the type of conditions of disorders that our medical system is set up to address.
This is exactly why ubiquitous, scalable technology such as the Internet must be part of the solution. Therefore, a significant opportunity ahead of us is how to leverage consumer-facing, Internet-enabled platforms in order to optimize brain function to better process information, to enhance working memory, and to better regulate one’s stress and emotions. So, the internet can be good for the brain "if the analytical and collaborative power of the internet is used properly to monitor and enhance brain functionality in a cost-effective, scalable manner." But, remember, everything else you do also has the power to change the brain in positive manners, such as taking a walk outside, and taking some time to appreciate nature and meditating.
