Thread: Is technology making us crazy?

Is technology making us crazy?

Will our brain ever adapt?

brainhealth.utdallas (dot) edu/blog/is-your-brain-being-wired-by-technology

The only person I know of who was made insane by technology was Ted Kaczynski.

I think it's the unicorns, there's a youtube video about that.

A blog with many bold claims, non of which are supported in anyway by the article.

"Science demonstrates that the human brain is not wired to perform two tasks at once, yet we have all become addicted multitasking."
Does it? Even scientist are pretty good at driving and thinking about work at the same time--our brains actually accomplish hundreds of task simultaneously just to keep the body running.

Or this gem:
"Multitasking contributes to the death of brain cells, takes a dramatic toll on mental processing and causes increased errors."
Where's the study for that one?

"The lure of technology is rewiring our brains in detrimental ways leading to weakened focus, shallower thinking, reduced creativity and forward thinking and a lowered ability to shut out irrelevant information – all decreasing our brain’s potential."
That must be why IQ has been climbing for nearly a century across the globe as we've become more technological. Just saying.

Originally Posted by Lynx_Fox

A blog with many bold claims, non of which are supported in anyway by the article.

"Science demonstrates that the human brain is not wired to perform two tasks at once, yet we have all become addicted multitasking."
Does it? Even scientist are pretty good at driving and thinking about work at the same time--our brains actually accomplish hundreds of task simultaneously just to keep the body running.

Or this gem:
"Multitasking contributes to the death of brain cells, takes a dramatic toll on mental processing and causes increased errors."
Where's the study for that one?

"The lure of technology is rewiring our brains in detrimental ways leading to weakened focus, shallower thinking, reduced creativity and forward thinking and a lowered ability to shut out irrelevant information – all decreasing our brain’s potential."
That must be why IQ has been climbing for nearly a century across the globe as we've become more technological. Just saying.

Though I agree that technology certainly has influenced IQ "along with nutrition". The other way to explain the Flynn effect would be that we're actually evolving to become more intelligent, which doesn't necessarily correlate with human history. E.G, following just 5 point increase per generation, Leonardo DaVinci would have had an IQ of roughly...well...nothing.

I think we could safely rule out evolution over such a short period--especially since if anything technology is probably leveling natural selective disadvantage for low IQ.

My guess would be that nutrition, treatment of crippling developmental problems, and more enriched homes all play a role (if you were looking for one metric...you could probably say declining poverty)--all are the result of improving technology.

We make ourselves crazy because we allow technology to overcome us and what we do. To much of anything will overwhelm anyone.

Originally Posted by Lynx_Fox

A blog with many bold claims, non of which are supported in anyway by the article.

"Science demonstrates that the human brain is not wired to perform two tasks at once, yet we have all become addicted multitasking."
Does it? Even scientist are pretty good at driving and thinking about work at the same time--our brains actually accomplish hundreds of task simultaneously just to keep the body running.

Or this gem:
"Multitasking contributes to the death of brain cells, takes a dramatic toll on mental processing and causes increased errors."
Where's the study for that one?

"The lure of technology is rewiring our brains in detrimental ways leading to weakened focus, shallower thinking, reduced creativity and forward thinking and a lowered ability to shut out irrelevant information – all decreasing our brain’s potential."
That must be why IQ has been climbing for nearly a century across the globe as we've become more technological. Just saying.

All interesting points. I think it has something to do with too much dopamine.

Overstimulation and Desensitization — How Civilization Affects Your Brain | J.D. Moyer
100 Things You Should Know About People: #8 — Dopamine Makes You Addicted To Seeking Information | Weinschenk Institute, LLC
Ominous News for Porn Users: Internet Addiction Atrophies Brains | Psychology Today

My point is the blog makes bold claim but doesn't support its arguments with anything credible. Neither did the more recent links you posted. If you claim "Multitasking contributes to the death of brain cells," Than there should be at least several peer-review studies that support that claim...that's how science works. That's how we expect intelligent discussions to work in the science forum.

I think they meant multitasking while using technology leads to the death of brain cells.

Reduced striatal dopamine transporters i... [J Biomed Biotechnol. 2012] - PubMed - NCBI

Unwiring & Rewiring Your Brain: Sensitization and Hypofrontality | Your Brain On Porn

I guess you know just as much as me.

Unplug, undo and unwind!

I am being humble. I am in the same boat as her and thats why opened this thread.

Maybe there is a connection with parkinsons disease?

Originally Posted by PhDemon

You are being thick - adding more unfounded speculation does not increase the strength of your argument. Are there any other diseases/syndromes you are going to claim are related with zero evidence? If so don't it's a waste of bandwidth.

I didn't claim anything as fact. Isn't this a discussion forum?

This isn't science? Reduced Striatal Dopamine Transporters in People with Internet Addiction Disorder

Originally Posted by PhDemon

It is - but in no way backs up your claim about brain cells dying or Parkinson's disease. It's sort of one of the rules of science that when you provide evidence for your claims it has to support it. I've now edited my ignore list so I will no longer see any of your nonsense so don't expect any more responses. I'll let you wallow in ignorance.

Originally Posted by PhDemon

Don't be so insulting.

Hypocrisy.

This thread is being moved to pseudo science-- with what's so far been presented to support the OP, that's being generous.

Assholes

Allow me to be the first to wish you a hearty goodbye.

Originally Posted by vaio

Assholes

Perhaps your brains have migrated into your testicles, you've got balls mate.