Losing Our Way?

In a previous post we looked at the possibility that our brains are shriveling as a result of so much screen reading. We are not allowing ourselves as much time as our fore-fathers and -mothers did to dive deeply into books, ideas and thoughts. Our human psyches prefer instant gratification.

Another possible instance of our brains deteriorating is our dependence on GPS systems when we travel. We used to pore over maps and memorize streets and landmarks in order to find our way. Now we are letting a device do that job for us. As a result, our brains are undergoing changes which cause spatial memory to decline. The way to bring it back? Turf the GPS and look at a map.

See this article in the New York Times for more information.