Facebook–Good for Your Memory: Twitter–Not So Much

A study recently released by Dr. Tracy Alloway of Scotland’s University of Stirling found that using Facebook stretches a person’s “working memory” (short-term or recent memory), while Twitter, YouTube and text messaging tend to weaken it. Bad news for all you Twanker’s in a Twance.*

She states in the article, Facebook ‘enhances intelligence’ but Twitter ‘diminishes it’, claims psychologist

The ”instant” nature of texting, Twitter and YouTube was not healthy for working memory. ”On Twitter you receive an endless stream of information, but it’s also very succinct,” said Dr Alloway. ”You don’t have to process that information. ”Your attention span is being reduced and you’re not engaging your brain and improving nerve connections.”

In another article, Study: How Twitter is hurting students, Alloway found that:

• Keeping up-to-date with Facebook improved children’s IQ scores
• Playing video games – especially those that require planning and strategy – and Sudoku also were beneficial
• Using Twitter, YouTube and text messaging does not engage enough of the brain to be helpful, and actually reduce attention span.
• Facebook requires you to keep track of past actions and then plan future actions, which stretches the working memory.

*Check out Twictionary for more great Twitter Jargon.

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