Posted on 09/07/2009 12:52:20 PM PDT by Wardenclyffe
Spending time on the Facebook networking site could enhance a key element of intelligence that is vital to success in life, a psychologist has claimed, but using Twitter may have the opposite effect.
Playing video war games and solving Sudoku may have the same effect as keeping up to date with Facebook, according to Dr Tracy Alloway.
But text messaging, micro-blogging on ''Twitter'' and watching YouTube were all likely to weaken ''working memory''.
Working memory involves the ability both to remember information and to use it.
Dr Alloway, from the University of Stirling in Scotland, has extensively studied working memory and believes it to be far more important to success and happiness than IQ.
Video games that involve planning and strategy, such as those from the Total War series, may also train working memory, Dr Alloway believes.
'You're keeping track of past actions and mapping the actions you're going to take.''
Sudoku also stretched the working memory, as did keeping up with friends on Facebook, she said.
But the ''instant'' nature of texting, Twitter and YouTube was not healthy for working memory.
''On Twitter you receive an endless stream of information, but it's also very succinct,'' said Dr Alloway. ''You don't have to process that information. Your attention span is being reduced and you're not engaging your brain..."
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Stopped reading at the keyword “psychologist”. Accuracy requires it be replaced with “witch doctor”. Both professions are equally effective.
Facebook is really lame. You do make connections with people you have not seen in years but many of them you did not want to hear from again anyway. ;-)
I like both, although facebook does have a lot of annoying requests. Anyway, it’s all in good fun.
Yeah, and most of the ended up being liberals and huge O'Dumbo supporters.
LOL! ;-)
Stop slandering witch doctors by comparing them to psychologists!
;-)
according to Dr Tracy AllowayWhat's in her investment portfolio?
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