Brain on GPS
a year ago
- #neuroscience
- #navigation
- #technology
- Alex Hutchinson discusses the impact of GPS on human navigation and brain function in his book 'The Explorer’s Gene'.
- The author reflects on his personal resistance to using GPS, preferring to navigate manually to keep his brain engaged and to experience the world more actively.
- GPS technology, originally a U.S. military project, became widely available for civilian use in 2000, revolutionizing how people navigate.
- Neuroscientific research shows that relying on GPS for navigation can lead to a smaller hippocampus, which is linked to higher risks of neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.
- Studies by neuroscientist Véronique Bohbot reveal that cognitive mapping (active navigation) strengthens the hippocampus, while stimulus-response navigation (like using GPS) can shrink it.
- The author shares a personal anecdote about a backpacking trip where he realized how GPS use made him less engaged with his surroundings.
- Research indicates that as people age, they tend to rely more on stimulus-response navigation, reducing their use of cognitive mapping.
- The broader societal trend toward passive consumption of information (e.g., algorithms, package tours, review sites) mirrors the decline in active navigation and exploration.
- The author advocates for occasionally turning off GPS and other automated tools to re-engage with the world and stimulate the hippocampus.
- Dr. Bohbot emphasizes that making errors while exploring helps people pay attention to their environment and stimulates brain activity.