Internet searching may improve brain function, according to a study led by UCLA’s Dr. Gary Small. The study found that searching the internet engages more of the brain than reading, and those with more internet experience had higher levels of brain activity. However, the study only evaluated people aged 55-76, and more research is needed to fully demonstrate the theory. Other activities like working math puzzles can provide similar benefits.
For all those people who say that hours of internet research are a waste of time, you may have missed this topic. In studies of Internet searching, particularly a study published in October of 2008, there is significant evidence to suggest that Internet searching may actually improve brain function. There are important limitations to this study, which should be taken into consideration before you start surfing the web or committing to more hours online.
First, the study released in October 2008, led by UCLA’s Dr. Gary Small, evaluated people between the ages of 55 and 76. Researchers know it may be more difficult to improve brain function in this age group because the brain begins to atrophy and may show decreased function as we age. The study did not account for the fact that internet searching would improve brain function in younger groups of people.
What Dr. Gary Small and his team of researchers found, however, is interesting. Participants had magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans while reading or searching the Internet. Both activities showed increased brain activity, but internet searches showed increased activity in different areas of the brain. Searching the Internet tends to engage more of the brain than reading.
There was some difference between people who were unaware of internet search. Those who had previously spent a lot of time online had much higher levels of brain activity, and those with less Internet experience had nearly two-thirds less activity than Internet-savvy participants. It could be that more experience with the net could help improve brain function more dramatically as people lose their rookie status.
Because significant brain activity, especially one involving multiple parts of the brain, can improve brain function over time, it’s thought that you might actually be able to sharpen your cognitive skills if you search online. This, according to Dr. Small’s study, would be more useful than reading. However, if you hate the internet, there are ways to get the same kind of benefits from doing offline.
Working certain types of puzzles, especially math puzzles like Sudoku or crosswords and anagrams, can provide the same kinds of benefits. The downside to this type of puzzle is that they rely on the information you have. You may be able to expand knowledge and improve brain function, if you are also learning new things from internet travel. There is clearly more research needed in this area to fully demonstrate Small’s theory, but the initial data are encouraging and suggest that there may be major benefits for middle-aged and older people who want to stay awake while surfing the net. .
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