DISPENSARY CORNER 08 Oct 15
October 8, 2015
HUMAN memories are getting
worse, according to a new study
which blames an over-reliance on
computers and search engines
for the phenomenon of so-called
“digital amnesia”.
According to Dr Maria
Wimber from the University of
Birmingham, the easy availability
of internet look-ups “prevents the
build-up of long-term memories”.
The memory habits of 6,000
adults in Europe were surveyed,
with more than 33% saying they
would turn to a search engine
to recall information, the BBC
reported.
UK adults were the worst
offenders, with more than half
saying they would “search online
for the answer first”.
Dr Wimber said the process
of remembering things is a
“very efficient way to create a
permanent memory.
“In contrast, passively repeating
information, such as repeatedly
looking it up on the internet, does
not create a solid, lasting memory
trace in the same way”.
Only 51% of people in the UK
could recall their partner’s phone
number, in contrast to almost 80%
of Italians.
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