The Google Effect on Our Brains
One of the cognitive declines we experience as we get older is slower speed of processing. That simply is the ability to think quickly. This is really an unfortunate turn of events as we move farther and farther into this technology age. The reason it is unfortunate is that we are bombarded with 200 times more information than just 20 years ago according to Sandi Chapman, founder and chief director of the Center for BrainHealth at the University of Texas at Dallas. This is information overload and even those with high-speed brains have problems absorbing this much information.
Technology in the form of search engines, social media, and email have taken over much of our memory capacity. We no longer have to remember phone numbers, addresses, birthdays, or anything else we have saved for easy retrieval. And, it is this method of compartmentalizing information that is referred to as Google Brain, the Google effect and digital amnesia. Chapman states that offloading this type of information is not bad in itself, but it is the process of rewiring the brain to rely on instant access that is troubling. “We’re chipping away at our ability to think deep thoughts, innovate and take time to smell the coffee” says Chapman. In expecting to have information easily and quickly available, our ability to retain and recall information is lower. Instead of reciting the information itself, we recall where we found the information. Since Google is easily accessible to almost everyone all the time, researchers have concluded that we are relying on Google to store knowledge long-term, instead of our own brains. We are outsourcing ‘search’ from our brains to our computers.
Chapman holds a doctorate in cognitive neuroscience from the University of Texas Dallas. Google brain is a constant distraction. We don’t take the time to read in-depth anymore. We are more accustomed to jumping from one search to the next, not retaining the information and losing track of what we were searching for. “Our brains typically use information stored in long-term memory to facilitate critical thinking. We need these unique memories to understand and interact with the world around us. If we rely on Google to store our knowledge, we may be losing part of our identity.” (Sobel-Fitts,A. January 4, 2017)
“Google brain is a thin, fuzzy notion of ideas but no real depth of thinking” according to Chapman. She has developed a training program called Flex Your Cortex: Seven Secrets to Turbocharge Your Brain. Let’s see what she has to say:
Stop Multitasking.
When you do more than one thing at a time your brain is continually jumping back and forth from one task to another. It degrades your brain system at every level, increases your production of stress hormones and can even make you physically sick.
Her suggestion is to do Sequential Tasking. “Do one thing in a short period of time, but just one thing. We have people time themselves and they are actually faster at completing multiple tasks if they do them one at a time.”
Inhibit Information Downloading.
There is a belief that the more information we take in, the smarter we are.“Turns out the highest-performing people aren’t those who can remember the most but those who know how to block out 95 percent of what’s coming in and focus on a few important things from the get-go.”
Detox Distractions.
Continual background noise, either with music through earbuds, TV in background, emails, texts, etc. inhibit our ability to immerse ourselves in creative thought.“We are typically interrupted every three to five minutes.It takes the brain almost 20 minutes to get back into deep-thought mode.”
Practice Big-Idea Thinking.
This is the mastermind of these concepts.Basically you have to synthesize and interpret.Look closely into the facts.Expand your thinking out to the big ideas and themes.And then dive deep and go in wide on how you apply that information.
“Big-idea thinking is for the brain what push-ups and pull-ups are for the body.”
Calibrate Mental Effort.
Have you started a quick Google search and find yourself still searching after a few hours?Mental calibration is creating stopping points and moving on.Our brains use a lot of energy in mental tasks.If you deplete your energy on superfluous searches your brain will be too tired to pull out the important concept you were originally looking for.“You need to be hunting when your brain is the freshest, which for most people is the first two hours of the day.”
Take Time for Innovation.
Step back, take a breath, and free your brain.“Innovation does not come when you speed up to work, work, work through the night.It comes when you sleep on it.All of a sudden you-re like, ‘Wow! My brain connected in these innovative ways.’Our brain loves freshness and hates the status quo.”
Find Your Motivation.
“Motivation always trumps talent” Chapman says.“Motivation increases dopamine, which in the right doses makes us happier and increases memory.Productivity jumps through the roof.It’s all about figuring a way to do something differently.”
References:
Hall,C. (November 17, 2015). Is your brain being Googled to death? The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved December 3, 2015 from http://www.dallasnews.com/business/columnists/cheryl-hall/20151117-is-your-brain-being-googled-to-death.ece
Kreiger, L. (August 13, 2016). Google is changing our brain. Retrieved March 29, 2017 from http://www.mercurynews.com
Sobel-Fitts, A. (January 4, 2017). Google effect – changing the way we think. Retrieved March 29, 2017 from http://www.huffingtonpost.com