Surfing the Net May Improve Brain Function

Scientists at UCLA have discovered that older adults with limited Internet experience were able to boost brain functions after a week of interacting with the web. Participants in the study activated centers in the brain that control decision-making and complex reasoning. The researchers are hopeful that this means some kind of Internet training could enhance sluggish brain functioning in older adults.

Science Daily reports:

As the brain ages, a number of structural and functional changes occur, including atrophy, reductions in cell activity and increases in deposits of amyloid plaques and tau tangles, which can impact cognitive function.

Research has shown that mental stimulation similar to that which occurs in individuals who frequently use the Internet may affect the efficiency of cognitive processing and alter the way the brain encodes new information.

“We found that for older people with minimal experience, performing Internet searches for even a relatively short period of time can change brain activity patterns and enhance function,” said study author Dr. Gary Small, a professor of psychiatry at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA

Science Daily: “First-time Internet Users Find Boost In Brain Function After Just One Week”