A Paleolithic Mind in a Digital Environment
The Evolutionary Mismatch Between the Human Brain and the Internet | Cognitive Science | Digital Behavior Abstract The internet has changed the way we live and think. Our brains developed in a world with information and small social groups. Now we are exposed to a lot of information, social media and digital distractions. This essay explores how our brains interact with the world and how it affects our attention, memory, motivation and well-being. 1. Introduction For thousands of years humans lived in groups with limited information. Our brains developed to focus on things detect threats and build relationships.. The digital world is different. We now have access to a lot of information, social media and digital distractions. This change raises a question: what happens when our brains meet the world? 2. Evolutionary Architecture of Human Cognition Our brains are designed to adapt to our environment. We developed mechanisms to respond to challenges in our surroundings. In groups we...