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KERA's Think

Tech has outpaced evolution

Jan 10, 2025
Richard E. Cytowic, a neurology professor at George Washington University and author of "Your Stone Age Brain in the Screen Age," discusses how our Stone Age brains struggle to cope with modern technology. He highlights the negative impact of screen time on attention spans and social interactions, especially in children. Cytowic reveals how tech companies exploit psychological tactics to foster addiction, and stresses the importance of setting boundaries to regain mental health. Emphasizing silence's role in emotional intelligence, he calls for a return to deep, meaningful engagement.
44:56

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The rapid advancement of technology creates a cognitive load that overwhelms our Stone Age brains, impairing multitasking and focus.
  • Excessive screen time, particularly among children, disrupts social development and may lead to behaviors resembling autism, highlighting the need for real-world interactions.

Deep dives

The Evolutionary Disparity Between Brains and Technology

Human brains have remained essentially unchanged since the Stone Age, while technology has advanced exponentially. The brain, evolved to operate in small social units and to prioritize survival tasks, now faces the challenges of a hyper-connected world filled with complex and constant digital stimuli. This disparity means that, while we can adapt to modern technology, the cognitive load required to manage multiple streams of information overwhelms our brain's limited energy resources. Engaging with digital technology consumes significant mental energy, leading to fatigue and poor multitasking abilities.

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