Human memory adapts to the internet
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
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Specialists from the US found that a person uses the Internet and a computer as their own memory. The study was conducted by a group of scientists led by Betsy Sparrow from Columbia University.
The search consisted of several series of experiments involving volunteers. In the first experiment they were asked questions on general knowledge. After that, the participants were asked to go through one of the modifications of the Stroop test *. Scientists showed the subjects various words printed in red or blue, and measured the time it took to name the font color.
As the experiment showed, a little more time for volunteers took to name the color of words related to the Internet (names of search engines). The growing reaction time to such words indirectly indicates that the participant was thinking about "search engines" when it was difficult to name the color when checking knowledge.
In the course of another experiment, the subjects were asked to read and type various phrases on the keyboard. At the same time, half of them reported that the file with typed text will be saved in a certain folder. The other part said that the information would be deleted. After that, subjects were asked to pass a memory test. The researchers found that in the first group, the subjects did not store information in the form of phrases, but the place of its storage on the hard disk of the computer. Participants in the second group, in turn, remembered the phrases better.
Researchers believe that with the development of computer technology and the Internet, a person's ability to remember information will not become worse. According to her, memory simply changes, adapting to work with the increasing volumes of available data.
* The test is based on differences in visual and logical perception of color (the real color and its name are opposed). Used to study verbal processes.
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