Why the modern world is bad for your brain by Daniel J Levitin - Essay Example

“Why the modern world is bad for your brain” by Daniel J Levitin Is technology accelerating our efficiency or diminishing our potential to perform? Daniel J Levitin’s article “Why the modern world is bad for your brain” published in the Guardian on the 18th of January 2015 is both critical and thought provoking on the widespread tendency to allow technology to take over one’s life by becoming addicted to multitasking or giving into the response-time pressure that comes with various forms of digital communication, such as email or text messaging. Levitin argues that multitasking mania, information overload, and the accelerating pressure of expectations create unreal positive impressions on human brain but end up causing significant harm to human body, mind and social behavior. Levitin draws on the research and works of several Neuroscientists and Psychologists to break the myths of multitasking and explain the physical and mental effects of the modern obsession and addiction to technology. I think the arguments advanced by Levitin sound convincing in view of my personal experience, news reports and similar findings from research around the globe. Levitin argues comprehensively against multitasking to shatter the ‘illusion’ surrounding multitasking and to point out the eventuating mental and physical losses to the multitaskers. One interesting observation made by Levitin is that the chronic tendency to multitask deludes people into believing that they are accomplishing a lot in a short time but in reality divides their attention between too many things to make them less efficient, more stressed and lose their cognitive abilities. Using research evidence, Levitin explains that switching between tasks stimulates the production of stress related hormones resulting in clouded thinking, anxiety, depleted concentration. Ultimate outcome is temporary pleasure but permanent loss of efficiency and cognitive skills, according to Levitin. I find this argument compelling because of my urge to multitask. When I am doing a reading for an assignment, for example, simultaneously I check and respond to emails, instant messenger, answering my phone, and sometimes listening to my favourite music too. If I find myself at times at a student computer lab where I may not have access to my personal email or music, or not allowed to use mobile phone, I frequently get distracted by the thought that I am doing too little when there is a lot to do. As a result, I become anxious for no reason, as just the very thought of missing out on doing several things at once makes me feel stressed. I wonder whether I am becoming addicted to this mania that I cannot stand even a moment of down time. Moreover, other research also supports Levitin’s argument, such as the one by Bowman, Levine, Waite and Gendron on academic success and efficiency among students who multitask. It is not only the chronic urge to multitask is a serious issue, but the modern communication systems are also having serious implications for human brains and social behavior. Levitin argues that email overload compounded with response-time pressure has become a serious problem and costs us time and health. Levitin compares the old and new communication systems to point out the fact how emails necessitate checking and responding throughout the day, while postal mails could be checked just once a day and responded to only if required and at leisure. I believe that most of the adult population use emails for communication and if it is a work email, then the pressure builds up even more as social expectations of response time creates stress on the individual. I do not get as many emails as an employed adult, but my inbox too gets full that I spend a lot of time to open each one and delete, respond or save for later. It is this that also urges me to multitask and to check emails even while at study. I consider this is certainly a problem. If I do not reply to a friend’s email immediately because of an assignment, my friend might misunderstand me. Then the next time, I have to add lengthy explanation. I feel stressed about it all the time. I wonder why people expect such immediate response. Not only emails, but among young people like me, text messaging and social network messaging services are more popular and could cause much more stress, posits Levitin. Levitin considers text messages and other such ones are hyperimmediate creating pressure to respond immediately and asserts that it is nothing but addictive by activating pleasure points in the brain. It seems to me that there is almost no one among my friends who does not use Textme or Viber and we all are always available. It implies we check and respond messages immediately. However, the problem arises when I stay awake in bed to check every ping or beep to look at a set of pictures or videos and respond right away. Just like what Levitin says, I get the feeling of accomplishment once I complete this task. Also, if I do not do it, I feel stressed and my friend will be upset with me and stop messaging. I think immediate responses show that I am socially active and responsive. I feel the group pressure. At the same time, I find myself involuntarily checking my mobile or tablet very often that I wonder whether I am getting addicted to texting. Overall, Levitin’s arguments are intriguing as they make us reconsider our behavior, especially our use of technology and desire to multitask. Scientific facts are so compelling that Levitin succeeds in bringing out the deceptive and addictive nature of certain aspects of technology and modern life. Social trends and expectations are too powerful to reject, but at a personal level, we should reappraise our tendency and make positive changes. Work Cited Bowman, Laura, L., Levine, Laura, E., Waite, Bradley. M., & Gendron, Michael. (2010). “Can Students Really Multitask? An Experimental Study of Instant Messaging while Reading.” Computers & Education. 54. 4(2010): 927-931. Read More