Brains Need Downtime, Too

I recently listened to a NPR Fresh Air interview with Matt Richtel who covers technology and telecommunications for The New York Times.

You can listen to the 30-minute interview here:

Richtel received the Pulitzer Prize in 2010 for a series in The New York Times on driving while multitasking.

Here are some highlights from the interview:

“One study conducted at Stanford University, which showed that heavy multimedia users have trouble filtering out irrelevant information — and trouble focusing on tasks. It starts to take a toll on your productivity.

Other research says that heavy video game playing may release dopamine, which is thought to be involved with addictive behaviors.

Your brain effectively processes one stream of information at a time. E.g., If you are at a cocktail party and hear several conversations you can only focus on one at a time. Apply that concept to a work environment where you are multitasking. When you switch among tasks, you cut your effectiveness at each one of them by a significant degree.

Richtel says that research is ongoing, particularly into how heavy technology may fundamentally alter the frontal lobe during childhood, how addictive behavior can lead to poor decision-making and how the brain is rewired when it is constantly inundated with new information.

One way of looking at all of this research, he says, is to think of technology the way we think about food.

Just as food nourishes us and we need it for life, so too — in the 21st century and the modern age — we need technology. You cannot survive without the communication tools; the productivity tools are essential," he says. "And yet, food has pros and cons to it. We know that some food is junk food and some food is healthy. And we know that if we overeat, it causes problems. Similarly, after 20 years of glorifying technology as if all computers were good and all use of it was good, science is beginning to embrace the idea that some technology is Twinkies and some technology is Brussels sprouts.

What if you don’t have downtime and you are always fiddling with your device? There seems to be some evidence that this takes a neurological toll…it seems you are not spending time creating. During boredom you may be creating something…When you are constantly on your device, you can be experiencing stress.

What’s the effect on long-term memory? The short answer is we are not sure yet but over time heavy cortisol production [stress related] can reduce your ability to retain memory. This is a working hypothesis.

What are the upsides to technology? Research from the University of Rochester indicates that certain video gamers have more visual acuity than those who don't game. And there's value in offloading thinking to a computer, he says — by, for example, using Google Maps instead of calling for directions or organizing information in Excel instead of keeping track of it in your head.

We are not unaware of the enormous benefits technology provides.“

To read his NYTimes article on the subject go here:

Any thoughts on multitasking, especially as it relates to students?

Obama on Parenting and School

President Obama gave parents some advice in Essence Magazine. See this link: http://www.examiner.com/x-35307-LA-Parenting--Education-Examiner~y2010m2d17-Obama-on-parent-involvement and don’t forget to read the comments below the article.

Obama says that parents should not allow their kids to watch TV during school nights.

I say that everyone needs downtime and sometimes TV is fine. Especially if the Olympics are on! TV in moderation is perfectly okay, even on school nights. As a parent, it’s easy to lay down the law and say “No TV on school nights” but it’s a lot harder to monitor your children’s TV time – that’s where the discriminating parenting comes in. There are some really good shows that are worth watching with your children. Yes, there are bad shows, too, of course, but you don’t have to watch those or allow your children to watch them. Or, you can watch them and then have discussions with your children about why they were bad shows. Turn it into a lesson.

Obama said that he and Michelle make their daughters start homework as soon as they get home from school. If they don’t finish by dinnertime the girls can continue afterwards. I worry about a culture that promotes working 12+ hours a day. Where’s the balance?

I say that a better idea is to let the girls have some free time right after school, especially while it’s still light outside. They’ve been in school for 7 hours, when they come home let them relax, or play outside, or hang out with friends, or walk the dog, or read for fun, or play a game, or help around the house, or play some music, or draw, or go to an after school extracurricular activity, or take a walk, or work in the garden, or…. There are so many healthy alternatives to doing homework the instant children get home from school.

And, look at the homework being assigned. If it’s busywork, or turning your child off to learning, then re-evaluate it and look at the impact it is having on your family and discuss this with the teacher. Or, if it’s simply taking your child too long to complete it - the National PTA and NEA recommends 10 minutes per grade level – then discuss that with the teacher. This would mean no more than 40 minutes/day for a 4^th grader (Sasha’s grade?) or 60 minutes/day for a 6^th grader (Malia’s grade?).

The things I liked about Obama’s parenting tips: he advocates an early bedtime for his girls (9:00 pm). Sleep is healthy! He also promotes staying in touch with teachers. I agree with this as long as parents don’t go overboard, and as long it is respectful on both ends. He says students must give their best effort in class. I agree. He promotes reading. I agree. He suggests having regular talks with your child about school and personal issues. I agree, as long as the discussions about school are not overly focused on grades, tests and homework. Lastly, he says to celebrate the little successes along the way. I completely agree.

What do you think?