Ryota Kanai
Investigation of the impact of the Internet on brain structure and cognitive functions
University of Sussex,Psychology Researcher
Researchers Theme Outline
In this research program, I will investigate how the information environment brought about by the Internet on human brain and cognitive abilities. I will develop a test battery to quantify online behaviours such as browsing speed, the degree of multi-tasking and the degree of involvement in social media. I will examine the hypothesis that these measures of web behaviours are reflected in individual differences in brain structure and cognitive functions. Furthermore, I will conduct a logitudinal study on people who start using the Internet for the first time in life and track the changes of their brain structure and cognitive functions caused by the change in their information environment. This project will establish causal as opposed to correlational relationships between the Internet usage and the brain.