Babbage from The Economist (subscriber edition)
Richard Cytowic: the human brain in the digital age
May 14, 2025
Richard Cytowic, a neurologist and author of "Your Stone Age Brain in the Screen Age," dives into the clash between our evolving brains and the digital age. He explores how constant notifications disrupt attention and learning, and how excessive screen time can mirror autism-like symptoms. Cytowic discusses the deterioration of genuine interactions and emphasizes the need for personal responsibility with technology, while advocating for silence as a crucial mental reset in our fast-paced world.
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Quick takeaways
- The digital age's constant information influx overwhelms our brains, leading to fragmented attention spans and cognitive overload.
- Excessive screen time risks social skills development and meaningful connections, necessitating self-discipline and breaks for better mental clarity.
Deep dives
The Overload of Information
The constant influx of information in the digital age is overwhelming for human brains that have not evolved to handle such stimulation. As individuals check notifications, emails, and social media throughout the day, the brain's cognitive capacity is stretched thin. This phenomenon creates a struggle between the human tendency to seek novelty and the brain's limitations, leading to a fragmented attention span. The absence of signals to indicate when to stop engaging with content contributes to this overload, with individuals continuously scrolling and consuming information without rest.
