Internet Use Affects Memory

Justin Guariglia, National Geographic / AP Photo

Something to think about during your morning browsing. Researchers found that people are more likely to remember information if they believe they won't be able to access it in the future, and that they are more likely to remember how they found the information than the information itself. Scientists had people search for bits of trivia. Subjects who were told they wouldn't be able to search again remembered the trivia answers significantly better than the people who thought they could always search again. In a second test, subjects were more likely to remember what desktop file information was stored on than the information itself. "Human memory," said one researcher, "is adapting to new communications technology."