Short term memory, that is. A team of scientists from Columbia University conducted tests to determine how people’s memory is affected by internet use. The experiments themselves were simplistic to a fault, requiring mere recall. It’s not as if they forced the participants to stay online for 12 hours then asked them what they did. Instead, a few simple routines bore unexpected results. But the big reveal only comes after the break.
The head of the experimental series was Dr. Betsy Sparrow (sounds like a character off of a TV series) and a total of four tests were run.
Details of the Experiments
In the first experiment, participants were made to type a sentence onto a computer. This simple task was designed to measure the basic recall ability of the participants when they knew the information was being stored digitally.
In the second experiment, a trivia question was thrown at the participants. This test aimed to see how well participants could remember information when they knew it was being saved on a computer. The trivia question was saved in one of five desktop folders, and participants were later asked to recall not just the answer to the trivia question, but also where it was saved.
The third and fourth experiments were not disclosed in detail, but the second experiment was considered the most revealing. Why? Because the people subjected to the trivia remembered the part where the question was saved in one of five desktop folders. This indicated that participants were more likely to remember the location of the information rather than the information itself.
Implications of the Findings
What this means is a person’s memory relaxes if they know someone or something will store the data for them. If they do, they’re likely to forget it. This phenomenon is often referred to as “digital amnesia” or the “Google effect.” Essentially, people are outsourcing their memory to digital devices, relying on them to store information that they would otherwise need to remember.
This has significant implications for how we interact with technology and how it affects our cognitive abilities. For instance, students might rely heavily on digital notes and online resources, potentially impacting their ability to retain information long-term. Similarly, professionals who depend on digital calendars and reminders might find their short-term memory skills diminishing over time.
Moreover, this reliance on digital storage can affect our problem-solving skills. When we know that information is readily available at our fingertips, we might be less inclined to engage in deep thinking or critical analysis. This could have broader implications for our intellectual development and our ability to innovate.
Apparently, these results are supposed to be of great significance. Who knew? The study opens up a broader conversation about the role of technology in our lives and how it shapes our cognitive functions. As we continue to integrate digital tools into our daily routines, it’s crucial to be aware of their potential impact on our mental faculties.
Source New York Times
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