The Digital Revolution’s Challenges to Our Humanity: Part 3--The Biologic Lecture 1

3rd part on the digital revolution looking at biologic harms. Key brain aspects include networks, the neurotransmitter dopamine, and mirror neurons. 4 networks. 1) executive control network (ECN): decision making and self-regulation. 2) salience network (SN): filters external and internal stimuli. 3) default mode network (DMN): activated when not engaged in a task. Includes ideas of the self and others (aka social cognition or mentalizing). 4) task positive network: active in tasks.

Neurotransmitters help neurons communicate. The neurotransmitter dopamine drives reward centers. Mirror neurons (MN) fire when a person acts or observes someone performing the same act and are important in perceptions of emotions and empathy.  These structures are imbalanced and not harmonious in psychologic disorders and addictions.

Digital technology unnaturally brings a large quantity and high frequency of novel information or stimuli to reward centers. This overload can lead to addiction manifested by anxiety and obsessive technology checking behaviors. 

In addiction, the DMN thinks too much about “me” and not enough on others. Addiction decreases the DMN’s connections to the ECN leading to impulsive behavior and poor long-term goal prioritization. The SN wrongly prioritizes external and/or internal addictive cues. Dopamine receptors are down regulated resulting in need for more stimulation. MN's connectivity likely decreased with less social recognition and empathy.

References
Anna Lembke Dopamine nation +  interview

Zhang + Volkow Brain default mode network dysfunction in addiction-what addiction does to our brains

Gazzaley + Rosen The Distracted Mind: Ancient Brains in a High-Tech World

Review Mirror neurons 30 years later

Dopamine, Smartphones & You-how our brains are manipulated

Journal of the American Medical Association Pediatrics articles: Associations Between Infant Screen Use, Electroencephalography Markers, and Cognitive Outcomes + Association of Habitual Checking Behaviors on Social Media With Longitudinal Functional Brain Development

Kurt Thompson Anatomy of the Soul

Ronald Siegel The Science of Mindfulness

Is Internet Pornography Causing Sexual Dysfunctions? A Review

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