Actually, the "brain as machine" model is totally discredited by an avalanche of research on neuroplasticity over the last twenty or thirty years, showing the brain is a flexible, adaptive, self-correcting, responsive organ, that organizes itself, grows and changes to meet new demands, and adapts changes in functioning to changes in the environment in ways no "machine" could.
Spengler is simply wrong, as most uneducated lay people would be, and as the author who wrote the WSJ article is as well.
Current models of brain functioning are far more sophisticated than the author acknowledges, perhaps because he has been in his career comfort zone for years, doing what he has always done, and not kept up. Judicious use of medications as well as other treatments have achieved significant advances in treating problems with brain functioning, including adhd.
As far as computers are concerned, there are programs which don't help anybody, and others that are helping people recover from brain injuries, strokes, disabilities of all sorts by retraining the brain and redrawing the neurological maps of the cortex. If Spengler and the rest want a villain to pick on, they should take a look at ordinary television and its effect on cognitive development.
I agree on that premise. One can simply look at the use of TV in society and the decline of Americas knowledge reference and learning.
Spengler doesn’t agree with the “enlightened secular model”. He doesn’t believe the brain is a machine.
I am very serious that if I had a child suspected of ADHD my first stop would be a medical doctor. The next stop an Audiologist. If I had an adult family member who suddenly out of the blue developed an unexplainable anxiety issue known as Panic Disorder I'd do the same thing.
The older General Practitioners understood some things that have been lost in modern medicine due too specialization in practices. Inner Ear related issues can wreak havoc on the body and mind. They are hard too prove in many cases but the clues many times lie in getting a very extensive early childhood to current medical history and some detective work asking the right questions including military service and work environments.
The treatment as far as medication goes may shock some as well. No Ritalin. Enviromental modifications in these cases are needed. For ones thing a good old fashion butt busting cures all need too stop and think about what all has changed technology wise since parents who were born in the 50's and 60's had as kids. Yea the TV could have a huge impact on some kids. Watch their behavior after a show especially one with a lot of special affects and vivid colors flashing.