by Jolie O’Dell / October 21, 2009

A group of UCLA researchers has determined that for middle-aged and older folks, using the Internet, particularly search, causes enhanced neural stimulation leading to better reasoning and decision-making.

At a recent presentation at the Neuroscience 2009 meeting in Chicago, the scientists stated, “The results suggest that searching online may be a simple form of brain exercise that might be employed to enhance cognition in older adults.” Defying folk wisdom regarding old dogs and new tricks, the research was conducted on Internet users aged 55 to 78, about half of whom rarely used the Internet.

Previously, the same researchers proved that conducting searches online doubles brain activitation in older “digital natives” compared to older “digital immigrants.”

One of the authors of the study, UCLA psych professor Dr. Gary Small, said, “We found that for older people with minimal experience, performing Internet searches for even a relatively short period of time can change brain activity patterns and enhance function.” In other words, it takes just a matter of days for older first-time Internet users to catch up to their more experienced counterparts in terms of brain activity.

More at: Get Granny to Google: How the Internet Helps Older Brains.

Ooohhhhhh? OOhhhhhh!

GL

I tweeted something like “If someone emails me a question with 5 question marks as punctuation, I usually don’t answer. It’s worse than all caps. Seems like a demand.”
Since then (4 hours ago) it’s been retweeted, copied, and bounced all over twitterville. I guess I’m not the only one to feel that way. Haha.

I realize that when you participate in social media venues such as Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, you put yourself out there. And sometimes become the taget of the Blow Hard, Know-It-All, Jackass for no reason other than percieved misconception or plain ignorance.

Today I was publicy but lightly rebuffed by @baldheretic for having the words “Social Media Marketer” in my Twitter bio. His tweet: If your twitter bio says “Social Media Marketer” and you follow me you are likely to get denied and blocked like @greggluhring just did.”

I had just followed the chickenshit man because he was touted (maybe by himself) as a “Social Media Expert.” I did not ask him anything that would allow him to deny me anything. And the fact that he blocked me just showed me and the world that he was able to dish it out but was not willing to take it. By blocking me he effectively keeps me from replying to his twisted way of thinking. Usually you block someone if they are bothering you or if there’s a creepy situation like: they have no followers and are only following one person: You. I’ve blocked several people like that.

So what is the difference between a marketer and and expert? I call myself a marketer because I use the skills I’ve gained to help my clients in their marketing efforts mostly on the web. The things I’ve learned this year alone in Social Media would make most peoples’ heads spin. That’s why they hire me to do what I do. Because I understand and I have the aptitude in my skillset. I suppose you could call me an expert but I’m not so bold.

The man that calls himself an expert is an expert only in broad generalizations and blind classifications. Instead of Expert, I would call him a Social Media Dick. He kind of looks like one.

Aren’t blogs fun?

GL