This property is confirmed by the fact that the brain can change its structure and distribution of functions throughout life, although earlier it was believed that it was completely and permanently formed in childhood. According to Carr, this fact explains the negative impact of the Internet on brain. He cites the example of concentration and focusing on something outside the network. Due to a long stay on the Internet, "some areas of brain develop well, but the other ones degrade" (Epipheo). As a result, a person loses the ability to focus on one phenomenon or thing in real time. The ability to concentrate actuates other mental processes, so "the possibility of loss of focus has a strong negative impact on the entire brain" (Epipheo). Nicholas Carr cites the examples of processes that deteriorate because of violation of concentration level. He enumerates long-term memory, critical thinking, as well as construction of conceptual knowledge processes that are closely related to the ability to concentrate. In addition, there is also an equally important function of the thought process, which is called "the Consolidation memory" (PBS NewsHour). This function is responsible for the transportation of certain knowledge or information from short-term memory to long-term memory. Caution is the key feature in the …show more content…
Carr describes the results of a test conducted by the team of University of Michigan in 2008; the aim of the study was to find out how recreation on nature affects cognitive process (Carr 219). Having the same level of mental load, a group of people walking in the park had better results than the group that did not walk had (Carr 220). This experiment proves that nature affects person not just positively; moreover, human brain relaxes, and thus, "the level of focus and concentration stabilizes" (Carr 220). The author asserts that a number of such experiments indicates the high importance of human contact with the natural environment. "Spending time in the natural world seems to be of "vital importance" to "effective cognitive functioning" (Carr 221). In addition, Nicholas Carr raises issues of emotions and empathy. According to him, the Internet breaks "contemplation function", thus, it also worsens profundity of emotions (Carr 222). The article also states that a person learns many other useful cognitive skills, which make people more productive in the information era. Acquiring new skills, prejudice does not disappear (as it is simply replaced), so over time, human mind and consciousness change (Carr 222).