Abstract:

Is your brain being altered due to our increasing reliance on search engines, social networking sites and other digital technologies? This is the question which I will address in this paper.

The paper will translate cutting-edge neuroscience - the scientific study of the nervous system - to ‘zoom out’ and present a big picture view of the most up to date information on how the brain works and will appeal to both experts and those with an interest, but not necessarily with expertise, in the Life Sciences.

By introducing the basic concepts of the nervous system (neurology) the paper will explain the concept of ‘brain plasticity’ - the ability of the brain to constantly rewire itself - and will show how all learning changes the shape of the brain, allowing specific areas in the brain to grow or change (Small, Moody, Siddarth and Brookheimer 2009). Furthermore, by using enriched virtual learning web environments to accelerate this brain growth this paper will document recent evidence of how the new ‘cyber therapies’ are being used to help those patients suffering from addiction and post traumatic stress disorder (Stix 2010).

The paper will review the evidence that the internet has the potential to dramatically improve mental health including new opportunities to learn healthy habits to lift our mood and enhance our brains longevity.

References:
Small, G. W., Moody, T.D., Siddarth, P. Brookheimer S.Y. Your brain on Google: patterns of cerebral activation during internet searching (2009) Am J Geriatric Psychiatry 17, 116-126.

Stix, G. Craving a Cure: A Virtual Meth House Serves as Fodder for Addiction Studies, Scientific American. (2010). October 7.

Keywords:

Plasticity, neuroscience, addiction, virtual learning environment, post traumatic stress disorder, mental health.