“Neuro plasticity, argues…and experiences” (pg 31)
“In the quiet…as they read deeply” (pg 65)
The first quote was about how neuroplasticity is the way in which people are able to adapt to different and all situations. This idea led to, according to the research done by Nicholas Carr, a shift in thinking for the entire neurological science community. Where previously it was thought that the brain was an unchanging system or network of cells, after the idea of Neuroplasticity was formed people began to see the full capacities of the human brain to change and adapt to anything. This quote struck me because, as with other world changing ideas, it provides a whole new scope of thinking. I had always heard that “after your brain grows to it’s full size, you can only lose brain cells and it’ll deteriorate over time.” This quote provided a relief to me more than anything and made me less scared about the future of my mental health. But it also brought me to think about how people adapt. Looking back on the way people thought or worked in the ancient times and comparing that to how people work with technology in the present, there has been an incredible amount of development. People needed to learn how to work with machines and now computers and now people can’t function without computers because of the adaptation. Everything a human is capable of is made possible by a functioning brain network and It is both amazing and frightening that the brain is able to mold itself to anything and change the way people live.
Neuroplasticity also brought a new respect for the ability to multitask and do many things as opposed to being able to do one single thing for an extended period of time. This brings me to my second quote which discusses how deep focused reading and analysis of text can lead and has led to deep thinking and development of individual ideas. Now that being able to multitask is held above being able to do one specialized thing for extended periods of time, It makes me wonder how people will be able to sustain deep thought. Deep thought is necessary, in my opinion, to make innovative decisions. Without being able to read and absorb in an immersed situation is extremely destructive to the creative process and is an issue that frightens me as well.
Overall, what I learned from the pages I have read is both fascinating and frightening and it makes me more motivated to be aware of the things going on around me and the digital and technological world.
