Humankind fleeing intellectual overload: Is there a viable remedy for this intellectual bind?
Modern technologies may have a dark side: Those few moments you spend on your phone during lunch can drain your productivity, the blue screen on your TV before bedtime might disrupt your sleep, and the emotional turmoil brewing on social media channels could be giving you a migraine.
As technology progresses and our devices become more deeply intertwined in our lives, we risk stepping into dangerous territory, says Dr. Adam Gazzaley, Ph.D., a professor of Neurology and Psychiatry Physiology at University of California, San Francisco.
He calls this phenomenon the "cognition crisis", arguing that technology has a significant negative effect on our emotional regulation, brushing shoulders with conditions like depression, anxiety, and attention deficit. It also impacts productivity, performance, relationships, empathy, and more.
Being the author of The Distracted Mind, Gazzaley has dedicated much of his career to researching the connection between human nature and technology interaction. In an interview with Thrive Global, he shares how technology has challenged us, granting us access to information in unprecedented ways that are reshaping our relationship with the world. His research investigates some of the underlying causes of why we so easily fall prey to these negative consequences.
"It's not just black and white," says Gazzaley. "This story is complex, timely, and cause for concern. It's real."
So, instead of banishing technology altogether, Gazzaley suggests focusing on improving the way we use it. Make smart decisions about when, where, and how you use your devices. The onus is not on eliminating technology, but on finding creative ways to address its influence.
Industry leaders have a role to play as well. According to Gazzaley, it's time for tech companies to take responsibility for their products' impact on users. Instead of seeking the largest viewership, they should scrutinize the potential for harm to their customers.
These changes aren't unachievable, and steps are already being taken in the broader tech industry discourse. From setting time limits on screen usage at home, to phone-free dinners that challenge even the most stubborn families, to new Apple iOS features encouraging users to spend less time online, we're witnessing a cultural shift on our devices' relationships with us—particularly when it comes to establishing boundaries.
But the final solution lies in acknowledging the core of technology's development. Gazzaley is hopeful about the future, envisioning new opportunities for artificial intelligence and technology to aid rather than harm us. By creating technologies designed to elevate our brains, we can overcome the "cognition crisis" and actually benefit from the very tools that have created it.
The cognition crisis is a pressing issue for our generation, and the future may demand that we reconsider those 'idle' moments on social media. But let's not forget – the platforms themselves aren't going away, so it's high time we adjust. As Gazzaley points out, if we continue to move forward without thought, we will likely find ourselves facing a future in which we are apologizing for the things we've created. Instead, let's channel our resources into creating a new chapter in tech, one in which we enhance rather than diminish what makes us human.
Written by Rebecca Muller and originally published on Thrive Global.
Insights from Dr. Adam Gazzaley's Research:
- Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), neurofeedback, and neurostimulation provide opportunities to enhance cognitive functions and promote resilience.
- The brain is not designed for multitasking. Focusing on single tasks with full cognitive engagement leads to better productivity and cognitive outcomes.
- Attention management techniques, like minimizing environmental distractions and building routines for cognitive transitions, can lead to higher productivity and better cognitive health.
- Practical tools for cognitive control, such as mindfulness and games designed to improve focus, can help us regain cognitive control.
- By developing technologies designed to help us pay attention, regulate emotions, make decisions, and promote empathy and compassion, we can leverage technology to enhance rather than harm our cognitive abilities.
- Dr. Adam Gazzaley's research suggests that brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), neurofeedback, and neurostimulation can be used to boost cognitive functions and resilience.
- According to Gazzaley, the brain is not engineered for multitasking, and focusing on one task at a time with full cognitive engagement can lead to higher productivity and better cognitive outcomes.
- Attention management strategies, like managing environmental distractions and creating routines for cognitive transitions, can lead to increased productivity and better cognitive health, as found in Gazzaley's research.
- Practical tools like mindfulness and games designed to improve focus, as researched by Gazzaley, can help individuals regain cognitive control.
- By creating technologies that aid us in paying attention, managing emotions, making decisions, and fostering empathy and compassion, technology can be harnessed to enhance rather than harm our cognitive abilities, as envisioned by Gazzaley.
