Ibrain: Surviving the Technological Alteration of the Modern Mind

by Gary Small and Gigi Vorgan

Book Overview

"A book about your brain that should make you think--twice."

--Alvin Toffler, New York Times bestselling author of Future Shock

In his book iBrain: Surviving the Technological Alteration of the Modern Mind, Gary Small, one of America's leading neuroscientists, explores the remarkable evolution of the human brain caused by today's constant technological presence. Co-written with Gigi Vorgan, Dr. Small's iBrain separates...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0061340340
• ISBN13: 9780061340345
• Release Date: October 2009
• Publisher: William Morrow & Company
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.2" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Future Implications of Technology on Brain Development

Dr. Small, one of America's leading neuroscientists at UCLA, explores the evolution of the human brain caused by today's constant technological presence. This volume, co-written with Vorgan, separates the digital natives from the digital immigrants, suggesting that the internet with its limitless wealth of news and information is greatly altering the way young minds are developing and functioning. With the growth of Google, Facebook, and YouTube, Dr. Small's book is a guide to understanding the amazing impact of this new brain evolution on our society and our future. This book also warns of the potential dangers such as social isolation, and internet addiction among other things. Dr. Small and his colleagues, through their research at UCLA, are remapping, retooling, and evolving our brains. It also explores how the iBrain is imprinting a new evolution of the brain by technological advancement and future implications; namely, where do you fit in the evolutionary chain? What are the social, professional, and political aspects of this new brain evolution? How must one adapt and at what price? Reviewed by Claude Ury

stressed? anxious? can't stop checking your e-mail? you may have techno brain burnout.

iBrain, written by Dr. Gary Small - a neuroscientist and director of the Memory & Aging Research Center at UCLA's Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior - paints a picture of the complex human brain in words that are easy for those without a science background to understand. iBrain's main focus is to educate and caution readers about damage that frequent technology use can have on interpersonal skills - an area that Dr. Small posits is a strength that "digital immigrants" (those over age 30) have over "digital natives" (those under 30 who have been exposed to technology their entire lives.) The book starts by explaining how the human brain develops at different stages of life - malleable in both children and adults, and at it's prime in middle age. Dr. Small cites several studies in both children and adults that tie frequent technology use to conditions such as ADD, ADHD, Autism, depression, anxiety, and even sociopathic behavior. Dr. Small cautions that the damage of frequent technology use is especially prevalent for children under eight years old. The news is not entirely dismal, however; he also cites studies that show strengths in cognitive abilities that can be attributed to searching the Internet and using similar technologies. A recurring theme in iBrain is the issue of multitasking. Dr. Small attempts to prove that multitasking is not beneficial to productivity or attention levels. He explains that a condition called "continuous partial attention" is plaguing those that use the Internet frequently. This condition is described as "keeping tabs on everything but not really focusing on anything." This phenomena can also lead to "techno brain burnout," something that Dr. Small believes is threatening to become an epidemic if people don't become more aware of how frequent technology use can effect them. After stating his case that technology use, particularly at addictive levels, is changing the way humans interact and empathize with each other, Dr. Small provides some self-help resources. He includes several short tests to determine strengths and weaknesses in brain function and interpersonal abilities along with exercises for improvement in these areas. He also provides helpful tips for technologies (such as e-mail and instant messaging) designed to help users be more considerate to others' feelings as well as reduce multitasking challenges. Appendices include text messaging shortcuts, common emoticons, resources for addiction, and technology toolkit resources varying from brain exercises to online file storage. The book is helpful for both digital immigrants and digital natives, though it seems to paint digital natives in a negative light at times. Dr. Small does state that the collaborative nature of the Internet and its effect on specific parts of the brain has boosted opportunities for creative expression, something seen as a benefit to society. Most of the claims made in this book are based on small or

iBrain book review!

Our brains are an amazing force of nature, but until recently we haven't had a good understanding of how the way we live our lives affects the actual structure and function of our brains. In "iBrain...Surviving the Technological Alteration of the Modern Mind," Dr. Gary Small and Gigi Vogan explore the fascinating subject of how modern digital technology affects our brains, especially the use of the computer and video games. This book is important for many reasons, not only does it show how the structure and function of the brain is affected by the use of technology but it goes on to explain the health effects of the misuse of technology, and even the social, political, and economic impact of our high-tech culture. As the book points out, the average young person is now exposed to eight hours a day of technology which can contribute to, "hyperactivity, inattention, depression, and multitasking mania," to name just a few. I enjoyed this book for many reasons, especially because it just doesn't keep repeating the same themes without adding any new information, it truly does keep expanding on the subject material and encourages you look at how you and your family use technology. As the authors explain, we don't need to stop using the computer and other technological devices, "Instead we all should help our brains adapt and succeed in the ever accelerating technological environment." The book is easy to read and is not just full of tech doom and gloom. It includes many suggestions on how we can help our brains by using both technology based programs and face to face social interaction. As the point is made, that as we become more "driven to distraction" by technology we don't want to become socially isolated from each other. This would not only be harmful to our brains but to society and our human nature as well. I recently read an article about a restaurant that doesn't have any waiters, instead it uses a video screen built into the table in which you order your food (then the screen bothers you the whole time you eat asking if you want to play games). If this is where our society is heading than I classify iBrain as essential reading. It may just help us save our humanity.

Say you want an evolution?

Say you want an evolution? iBrain: Surviving the Technological Alteration of the Modern Mind by Gary Small, M.D. and Gigi Vorgan Dr. Gary Small and Gigi Vorgan's iBrain is a fascinating book that details how technology is changing our brains. Their main thesis is that our brains and the brains of our children are much more plastic and changeable than we have been led to believe. They differentiate between digital immigrants: people who had to learn technology such as computers and cell phones as adults, and digital natives: people who have known technology since birth. The good news for middle-aged digital immigrants is that we have the advantage over older ones and the younger natives, because our brains are plastic enough to respond to and learn new technologies than older brains, but we retain the social skills that native sometimes lack. My son has a mild form of autism called Asperger's Syndrome, so I panicked for a moment. Did I let him watch television too much when he was younger. Play on the computer? No and no-he wasn't interested thankfully. But he is now, and I was surprised to learn that digital natives suffer some of the same symptoms as autistic individuals: lack of eye contact; a just-the-facts approach to communication, and a lack of give-and-take in conversation. So now that he's a PSP fanatic, is my son's Asperger's getting worse? I don't think so. He has enough else going on. According to iBrain, that seems to be the key. All electronics and no face time, makes for digital natives that have poor social skills, so it is very important to reinforce human connection away from electronic devices. The warning against multitasking and how is can contribute to anxiety and attention deficit disorder symptoms seem particularly relevant today when so many of us have trouble paying attention. The book provides many resources for understanding the best uses of technology determining whether or not technology is interfering with our lives. The questionnaires designed to locate the difficulties technology are followed by tangible exercises for improving our real world connections. The authors even include a glossary of technological terms, an especially-helpful list of emoticons and texting abbreviations, and a list of professional organizations that help with cyber addictions. The message of iBrain is not that technology is good or bad, but that it is both. Electronic devices can change the structure of our brains and leave us disconnected and lonely, but they can also help us accomplish much in terms of work, economics and social connection. For the sake of our brains, however, we must walk the fine line of being able to use and learn how to use new technologies, without losing our essential humanity.

iBrain: A Must Read for Parents

iBrain by Gary Small, M.D. and Gigi Vorgan 1st Edition, New York, N.Y. 2008 Collins Living, an Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers ISBN-13:978-0-06-134033-8 $24.95 iBrain is a fascinating foray into the world of neuroscience. While it does deal with some very technical subjects, the authors manage to do so in a very "user friendly" and entertaining manner. For instance, throughout the book, young people born into the "Digital Age" who have grown up with and are comfortable with technology are called "Digital Natives" while those of us who have had to learn to adapt to the digital age are referred to as "Digital Immigrants". The basic message of the book is that while Digital Natives have gained amazing multitasking skills by the constant and adept use of technology, they have lost and/or suffered a lack of face to face people skills. They don't tend to look people in the eye as much and often miss subtle body language cues. Digital Immigrants on the other hand have the people skills, but lack the digital savvy and multitasking abilities of the Digital Natives. The authors point out that there is not just a "generation gap" between the Immigrants and the Natives, but in fact a "brain gap". The Digital Native's brain is actually evolving differently than their parents' brains did. For instance, parts of the brain that control empathy are not developing due to a lack of face to face interactions. But, average IQ scores are steadily increasing. How many of us have Digital Natives in our homes? You know the ones, they look like our children but they have cell phones permanently attached to their hands and can't stop texting even at the dinner table; or they download music while playing an online game and watching the new YouTube videos whenever there's a break in the action. Studies have shown that video gaming can actually suppress frontal lobe activity. That's the part of the brain that controls learning, memory, emotion and even impulse control. And that's not all, this constant multitasking leads to shorter attention spans and difficulty with traditional learning, ie., school and classroom learning. There are so many things about technology that can rewire your brain, including "technobrain burnout". That's pretty self explanatory. I think we've all had that feeling of being completely washed out after a long session on the computer. But, a chronic state of technobrain burnout can actually reshape your brain structure. This book is completely filled with amazing information about the brain and how it is being changed by technology, for good and ill. I absolutely devoured it. I couldn't even resist getting out my highlighter and postit flags. In addition to the technical information, Dr. Small and Ms. Vorgan give practical advice on how to combat many of the problems we now face in this digital age, including technology addictions. As they point out, anyone can become addicted; and there are now twelve step programs to