March 17, 2014

Divers and Surfers: The World of the I-Brain

Diver brains and surfer brains are different.  The diver brain thinks deeply and can hold a line of thought for an extended period of time, generally without distraction. Imagine going deep beneath the surface, studying and thinking about the surroundings, carefully maintaining attention.   There are no cell phones, Google, or RSS feeds to interrupt the experience.  In contrast, the surfer brain skims the surface, taking in data and making rapid decisions and judgments about the data.  Stimuli are coming from all directions and the brain has to constantly  decide if it is relevant or not.  Much like surfing, it is exciting but the brain quickly fatigues.  Moreover, surfing absolutely precludes the possibility of deep thinking.

In recent weeks, I read  The Shallows by Nicholas Carr and Brain Rules by John J. Medina, in preparation for the 4-day Learning and the Brain Conference in February titled, iGENERATION:  HOW THE DIGITAL AGE IS ALTERING STUDENT BRAINS, LEARNING & TEACHING.   Clearly this is a hot topic.  In The Shallows, Carr sets up the argument that our brains, due to their neuroplastic nature, adapt to the demands of the environment.  He outlines the changes that likely occurred in the brain as a result of moving from the oral traditions of managing information, to the first methods of recording information on stones and papyrus, to the invention of the printing press and now the internet.  As information management evolved, some cognitive processes were strengthened and some were weakened.  Today’s brain is bombarded with information but how do we manage it so that we can also think?

Meanwhile, in the Brain Rules book, Medina addresses attention.  What engages the brain and what distracts it?  He states bluntly that the brain cannot multi-task  and he tells the story of his son trying to write a paper for school with 11 other windows open including 2 instant messaging screens!  Each time he has to shift attention, his brain has to engage, disengage, and re-engage somewhere else. This sequence has to occur every time attention is shifted. Studies show that a person who is interrupted takes 50% longer to complete a task and he makes up to 50% more errors in the process!  What’s more, this is an exhausting process.  I wonder how long a surfer could actually surf  if he had an endless wave?

I think we need both a diver brain and a surfer brain. However, it’s important to know what situation calls for which brain.  One does not put on an oxygen tank when he plans to surf and one does not go without one if he plans to dive.   The key to all of this will be teaching strategies to know how to manage the different demands that each situations calls for.  Do you have a paper to write?  Then it’s probably a good idea to close the other windows on your computer and turn off your cell phone.  Do you need to research something quickly?  Then Google is your answer, not the stacks at an old university library.  Do you want to get to know someone really well?  That’s a diver’s job.  Put away the cell phone.  Are you looking for a restaurant in the area?  Time to surf!  You get the idea.

I will have more to share on this topic after I attend the I-Brain conference in a couple of weeks.  As a life coach, I hope to learn strategies that will help everyone, student and non-student alike, maximize their performance in school and work, and reduce the potentially overwhelming feeling of brain fatigue as we manage our lives in the Age of Information.


  1. Ann – In my work as a trial attorney involved in defending automobile accident lawsuits, I see the unfortunate results of so many drivers who get so distracted by so many gadgets while they are driving. It used to be the occasional eyelash curler or lipstick application or electric shaver use on the interstate during morning rush hour. Now, its GPS, cell phones, texting, radio, PDAs, CD / DVD players, TV, and more. Yesterday, I saw a police officer in a squad car using a laptop computer. Yes, that officer was the driver going down the interstate at about 60 miles per hour. At 50 miles per hour, a car travels about 75 feet per second. It takes about 3/4 second to even react to a need to apply the brakes. Get the picture about distracted driving? Drivers should be Divers, not surfers. Your blog rings true, and makes me think that the phrase “TMI” apples here. Thanks. Dan DeFoe.

  2. Thanks, Dan. I always appreciate your insights. You come from a unique perspective as an attorney and also someone who is type savvy. Your story about the officer driving and using the laptop at the same time was pretty wild. Is there still a such thing as citizen’s arrest?

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