Writing in Britain’s Daily Mail, neuroscientist Susan Greenfield, Oxford University Alzheimer’s researcher and author of the book “ID: The Quest For Identity In The 21st Century”, says modern technology, including violent video games, multichannel television and the Internet, is altering the way our brains work.
“Electronic devices and pharmaceutical drugs all have an impact on the micro- cellular structure and complex biochemistry of our brains. And that, in turn, affects our personality, our behavior and our characteristics. In short, the modern world could well be altering our human identity.” Greenfield said.
“We could be raising a hedonistic generation who live only in the thrill of the computer-generated moment, and are in distinct danger of detaching themselves from what the rest of us would consider the real world,” she said.
While not convinced technology will ever truly manipulate the brain in ways that make us more clever or happy, Greenfield nevertheless says there could come a day when outside stimuli is used to harness the brain’s creativity to boost our individuality, instead of diminishing it.
Would you like to comment?
Join Diigo for a free account, or sign in if you are already a member.