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Over Exposure to Digital Media Can Cause Changes in the Brain

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Over Exposure to Digital Media Can Cause Changes in the Brain Liberty University

OVER EXPOSURE TO DIGITAL MEDIA 2 Abstract
This paper explores lesson two, about a balanced use of educational media. The lesson states that a predominance of television viewing leads to passivism and narcissism, and that reading literature invites mental involvement and is an investment in self. This paper examines briefly the case that digital media is changing the minds of humans and that we are not absolutely sure what result this “mind change” will have on future generations.

OVER EXPOSURE TO DIGITAL MEDIA 3 Over Exposure to Digital Media Can Cause Changes in the Brain
As I went over lesson 2, there were several things that got my attention. One of the main points put forth in lesson 2 was that excessive television viewing is bad for a person. The reason it is bad for a person is because it dulls the thinking process or the analytical process. Whereas, reading takes effort in both the act of reading and the process of deciphering the letters into cohesive thought. I think reading also allows time for the mind to analyze the ideas put forth in the text. Which permits a person to exercise their memory and imagination. A person has to remember some of what he reads in order to grasp the story line and ultimately there are blank spots in most stories which allow a person’s imagination to flourish. When one watches television or other forms of digital media the information flows so steadily at an increased rate, that it does not allow the viewer too actively and consciously participates in the process of deciphering the bites of information. This continual lack of effort of the viewer tends to dull the mind or modify it into another mode of processing information. The lesson puts forth the idea that from the age of five an American child will have viewed approximately 15,000 hours of television. The exposure to other forms of media, like the internet and games like XBOX, PlayStation, and Wii, have added to the total amount of digital media that children are exposed too. There have been a number of instances where a person has actually died from the continual play of electronic games over a few days. One young man by the name of Chris Staniforth as stated in an article by Rebecca Twomey (2010), died of a blood clot after playing Xbox for 12 continual hours. He is not a lone statistic.
OVER EXPOSURE TO DIGITAL MEDIA 4
Ian Sample in an article (2010) stated that brain researcher Lady Greenfield has coined the term “mind change” to describe to describe differences that arise in the brain as a result of spending long periods of time on a computer. Lady Greenfield stated “For me, this is almost as important as climate change,". The verdict is still not out in regards to whether the increased media exposure is damaging to the brain or if the changes to the brain will have no ill effects. On the other side of the coin, there is evidence that digital games can help people too. In an article in Molecular Psychiatry (2013), it was stated that “Video game training augments GM in brain areas crucial for spatial navigation, strategic planning, working memory and motor performance going along with evidence for behavioral changes of navigation strategy. The presented video game training could therefore be used to counteract known risk factors for mental disease such as smaller hippocampus and prefrontal cortex volume in, for example, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia and neurodegenerative disease.”

OVER EXPOSURE TO DIGITAL MEDIA 5 Conclusion
Digital Media is a new addition to the human condition. We are yet infants in our exposure to this vehicle of obtaining information. How this exposure will change us as humans is yet to be seen in its entirety. I think it would be wise to agree with some of the suggestions put forth in lesson 2. We should curtail our exposure to digital media using common sense and moderation.
We should also practice the use of traditional literature. However humans as a whole are not known for their moderation, so those humans who are in technically advanced civilizations are actual guinea pigs or test subjects. I imagine we will start witnessing the results of the increased exposure of digital media within a couple decades. Do not forget though, that technology will increase exponentially and we will be looking at entirely new challenges in regards to digital input within the coming decades. I think we can agree to be cautious and moderate in our use of digital media so that we can remain well balanced.

References 6
Kühn,S., Gleich T., Lorenz RC., U Lindenberger and J Gallinat, ( February 2014) Playing Super Mario induces structural brain plasticity: gray matter changes resulting from training with commercial video game. Molecular Psychiatry, Retrieved from http://www.nature.com/mp/journal/v19/n2/full/mp2013120a.html
Sample, Ian,. (14 Sept 2010), Oxford scientist calls for research on technology “mind change” The Guardian, Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/science/2010/sep/14/oxford-scientist-brain-change
Twomey, Rebecca,. (30 July, 2011), Xbox addict, 20, killed by blood clot after 12-hour gaming sessions. Mail Online, Retrieved from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2020462/Xbox-addict-20-killed-blood-clot-12-hour-gaming-sessions.html

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