LOGICAL MIND MAP ( WWW )

LOGICAL MIND MAP ( BRAIN )

HOW EXCESSIVE USE OF THE INTERNET(WWW) AFFECTS THE HUMAN BRAIN

Internet is a broad and huge computer network that links smaller computer networks worldwide.
The internet allows all computers worldwide to connect and exchange information which is referred
to as a global communication. The internet uses the same set of communication protocols be it the
commercial, governmental, educational, and other networks. The Human Brain on the contrary, is
the organ of the body in the head which controls movements, functions, and also thoughts. The
human brain is the command center for the human nervous system. The human brain is protected
by the skull. The internet has the ability to make people research and browse using different
websites, play games, watch movies online, images and different variety of videos. The brain on the
contrary, helps human beings to store information, think, learn, discover and also react. Internet
addiction is associated with structural and functional changes in brain regions involving emotional
processing, executive attention, decision making and cognitive control(Lin & Zhou et al, 2012).

Too much use of the internet can affect the human brain because the brain uses information stored
in the long term memory to facilitate critical thinking. We need the memories to understand and
interact with the world around us, instead we rely on the internet to store our knowledge which
makes us lose part of our identity. According to Bell(2010), Theres a long history of fear when it
comes to technologys impact on our lives. Also, the more we use internet, the less likely we are to
retain what we see in our brain. Information can be stored in the computer found on the internet
but the chances of remembering it is less because humans wont devote cognitively to it. As a result,
the ability to remember the information without the computer will likely be reduced which will
affect the human brain. The use of the internet also affects the brain because it changes our way of
thinking, having the convenience of using the internet for gaining knowledge at our fingertips
instead of our brain changes and distabilizes the way we think. Excessive use of the internet causes
Addiction.

Hong and colleagues found reduced cortical(the outermost part of the brain) thickness in internet
addicted teen boys(Hong 2013), and Yuan et al found reduced cortical thickness in the frontal lobe of
online gaming addicts correlated with impairment of a cognitive task(Yuan 2013).

The functions of the brain includes social interaction, communication with the body, storage,
learning, planning, and creative visualization. The internet also has functions that includes
communication, analyzing interaction, and also storage of data in computers. Other findings on
excessive use of the internet includes reduced numbers of dopamine receptors and transporters(Kim
and Hou 2012).As a result, the internet and the brain have similar functions which makes it possible
for the internet to affect the brain. The internet is also addictive, it affects the brain and could make
the brain breakdown.

In conclusion too much use of the internet affecting the human brain is said to be an Analogy
because they have similar things in common and also, the internet can affect the brain because of
those similarities they share.

REFERENCES

http://academicearth.org/electives/internet-changing-your-brain/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/30/shocking-ways-internet-rewires-
brain_n_4136942.html

http://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/skills/writing-skills-practice/and-against-essay-about-
internet

http://fusion.net/story/184582/heres-the-truth-about-how-the-internet-affects-your-brain/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/mental-wealth/201402/gray-matters-too-much-screen-
time-damages-the-brain

RANDOM WORDS (SOCIAL NETWORK)

1. Gossip:- casual or unconstrained conversation or reports about other people, typically

involving details that are not confirmed as being true.

Link:- most social network sites carry false rumors and unreliable information . The brain is tricked
into believing the news is true as a result of the amount of time the viewer spends on the internet.

2. Facebook:- this is a popular free social networking website that allows registered users to
create profiles, upload photos and video, send messages and keep in touch with friends, family and
colleagues.

Link:- People spend so much time on the internet making friends and chatting which psychologically
keeps them at distance with their real life friends.

3. Cheating:- act dishonestly or unfairly in order to gain an advantage, especially in a game or

examination.

Link:- The rate at which students used to read had reduced drastically since the internet came along.
Nowadays, when a student goes in for a test without reading, the first intuition he gets from his
brain is to make use of his phone to get answers.

4. Privacy:- the state or condition of being free from being observed or disturbed by other
people.

Link:- People, especially the young, are often too open and public with personal information when
online. Most don't read privacy policies and may be unaware that their information may be used by
third parties, like advertisers. They have convinced themselves that it is safe and harmless to post
personal information, including photos.
 5. Cyber bullying:- Cyber bullying is the use of cell phones, instant messaging, e-mail, chat rooms
or social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter to harass, threaten or intimidate someone.

Link:- Cyber bullying is often done by children, who have increasingly early access to these
technologies and the internet used to cause emotional trauma, and sometimes even leads to
suicide. 49.5% of students reported victimization by bullying online and 33.7% admitted to online
bullying.

6. Health :- a person's mental or physical condition

Link:- Extensive online engagement is correlated with personality and brain disorders like poor social
skills, ADHD, narcissistic tendencies, a need for instant gratification, and addictive behaviors and
other emotional distress like depression, anxiety, and loneliness.

7. Workplace abuse:- Internet abuse is broadly defined as inappropriate Web surfing whether
because the content viewed raises ethical questions in itself, the sites visited are prohibited in an
organizational or office policy, or simply because the time or frequency of Web surfing creates
problems.

Link:- Social networking sites harm employees' productivity physically and mentally. Approximately
51% of users aged 25-34 checked social media at work which could lead to a query.

8. Privacy:- Privacy is the ability of an individual or group to seclude themselves, or information

about themselves, and thereby express themselves selectively.

Link:- People, especially the young, are often too open and public with personal information when
online. Most don't read privacy policies and may be unaware that their information may be used to
harm them by third parties.

9. Food porn:- Food porn is a glamourized spectacular visual presentation of cooking or eating in
advertisements, infomercials, blogs cooking shows or other visual media, foods boasting a high fat
and calorie content, exotic dishes that arouse a desire to eat or the glorification of food as a
substitute for sex.

Link:- According to Women's Health, "food porn" photos found on social networks can activate the
brain's reward center and compel viewers to overeat which results in health hazards.

10. Self-esteem:- confidence in one's own worth or abilities; self-respect.

Link:- Posts on the internet many times present an idealized version of what something looks like.
This can lead users to constantly compare themselves to others and think less of their own lives
which will likely negatively affect your mood.

11. Multitasking:- the handling of more than one task at the same time by a single person.

Link:- Research has shown that our brains dont have the capacity to fully focus our attention on two
things at once. Spending countless hours on the social sites can divert the focus and attention from a
particular task and causes our brain to quickly switch from one task to another. This hinders
information processing and productivity.

12. Addiction:- Addiction is a condition that results when a person engages in an activity that
can be pleasurable but the continued use of which becomes compulsive and interferes with ordinary
life responsibilities.

Link:- Some people get addicted to social networks which affect the memory, and starts to rewire
the nervous system, causing the famous phantom vibrations.

13. Online games:- An online game is a video game that is either partially or primarily played
through the Internet or another computer network.

Link:- children who play online violent video games constantly can become violent themselves. They
become less active in areas that involved emotions, attention and inhibition of our impulses due to
changes in brain function that are likely related to that behavior.

14. Isolation:- the process or fact of isolating or being isolated.

Link:- As people spend increasing amounts of time on social networks, they experience less face-to-
face interaction. Scientists have evaluated social isolation and have determined that it can lead to a
host of mental, psychological, emotional and physical problems including depression, anxiety,
somatic complaints and many others.

15. Poor grammar:- Verb tense errors occur when you use the wrong verb tense and are a
common grammar mistake.

Link:-People that spend so much time on the internet develop poor grammar as a result of the
abbreviations they make use of often during chats. During exams, their brains give them the slangs
they are used to which reduces their mark in the test or exam.
JUXTAPOSITION

How excessive use of the Internet affects the brain

Too much use of the Internet makes someone addicted to it. AndAddiction on the other hand
changes the brain, first by subverting the way it registers pleasure and then by corrupting other
normal drives such as learning and motivation.

The picture above shows an addict. Whose addiction has caused him to miss out a lot in life and the
life of his family. It shows his family out having fun but he is too attached, distracted and occupied by
his playing online.

According to mail online, excessive Internet use may cause parts of teenagers brains to waste away,
a study reveals.

Scientists discovered signs of atrophy of grey matter in the brains of heavy Internet users that grew
worse over time.
This could affect their concentration and memory, as well as their ability to make decisions and set
goals. It could also reduce their inhibitions and lead to inappropriate behavior.

Researchers took MRI brain scans from 18 university students, aged 19, who spent eight to 13 hours
a day playing games online, six days a week.

The students were classified as internet addicts after answering eight questions, including whether
they had tried to give up using computers and whether they had lied to family members about the
amount of time they spent online.