Argument Summary of Digital Natives and Immigrants Nancy K. Herther’s article titled “Digital Natives and Immigrants: What the brain research tells us” discusses what brain research shows regarding the generation of digital natives. A digital native is anyone who was born into technology. A digital immigrant is a user over 30 who was not born into technology but may use it. Herthers research is centered on the idea that digital natives are different genetically and there is a generation gap. Using neuroscience studies Herthers looks into whether the digital natives generation is different genetically or has just learned and adopted. Herthers uses different studies and scientist or psychologist to answer this debate. The research indicates there is in fact no genetic difference instead there is just a gap between generations. Therefore Herthers believes there is no evidence to support this claim that digital natives are genetically different than any past generations, there is simply a generational gap. Herthers introduces this debate as to how different the digital natives are from digital immigrants, and whether this difference is due to a generational gap or a genetic difference. Herthers then uses research to answer this debate; the research goes into the differences between Digital Natives and Immigrants. The research includes how both digital natives and immigrants think, socialize, and how their brains might work differently. Herthers believes there is no genetic difference or generation gap instead it is a problem of intergenerational sharing; she uses her research to back up her argument. Herthers uses a study conducted by Small and his colleagues in which they assessed brain activity while searching the internet. Half the volunteers where regular users while the other half was not experienced in searching the internet. What the study found was that the volunteers who regularly search the internet showed twice as much brain activity than the other subjects without experience. The most important part of the study took place a week after, the volunteers who had less experience were trained and tested again. What the study then showed was “Just after a week of searching online, the Internet naïve subjects showed brain neural circuitry to those of the experienced Internet searcher. That is a very rapid adaptation that likely occurs as we learn new technologies.” (422) Herthers uses this study to show how if subjects who aren’t familiar with internet searching can in a weeks’ time match the brain activity of experienced searchers, there isn’t really a generational crisis instead an issue of experience and choice. Herthers goes on to use Gary Marcus a New York University psychology professor and author as evidence. Gray Marcus’ studies show that “overall, the genetics of the brain are unlikely to have changed in the recent times, although kids with lots of exposure to computers probably do think about them differently than at least some adults who only started using computers later in life. But there are lots of older folks who have become perfectly comfortable with computers, so it’s not an absolute thing.” (422) Herthers uses these statements to back up her argument as to how this generational gap really isn’t anything but choice and experience. Herthers uses the fact that there are older folks who use technology regularly as evidence that it simply takes adaptation and communication between generations to close this gap. Herthers also uses research about how digital natives work socially. With this research she finds how Digital Natives social skills are weakened due to their lack of in person contact. The study states “It just seems to make sense intuitively that, if you aren’t spending a lot of time in face-to-face communications, those kinds of abilities weaken without practice, while other mental skills might strengthen. A basic principle of brain stimulation is that when a mental activity is repeated, the neural networks controlling it strengthen.” With this research Herthers is able to point out one difference there may be between generations, but it is only due to lack of in person communication which can be taught by older generations. Herthers also goes on to talk about the differences there are between generations and how this shouldn’t be viewed as bad, because without difference there is no change. Herthers starts off by introducing both generations, the Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants. Herthers then goes on to talk about the debate at hand questioning whether there is a genetic difference between these two generation which also causes a gap. This debate is then looked into by neuroscience studies and psychologist, the research all indicates there is no genetic difference between Digital Natives brains and Immigrants brains. Herthers uses this research to prove her argument, this gap is nothing more than choice, experience and adaptation. Digital natives have experience with technology and have adapted to life with it, while Immigrants can make a choice to adapt as well.