Short-term Internet search using makes people rely on search engines when facing unknown issues

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Science
• Neuroscience
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Internet search engines are integral to daily life.
• Understanding the impact of search engine training on user behavior is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if short-term Internet search training enhances user dependency on search engines.
• To examine the neural correlates of this potential dependency.

Main Methods:

• A six-day Internet search training program was administered to 31 participants.
• Participants completed pre- and post-training tests involving searching for information and recalling answers.
• Brain activity was monitored using fMRI, focusing on dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex.

Main Results:

• Post-training, participants reported a higher impulse to use search engines for unknown questions.
• Increased brain activation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex was observed post-training.
• Positive correlations were found between self-reported search impulse and frontal brain responses.

Conclusions:

• A brief six-day Internet search training can foster dependency on search engines for information retrieval.
• This dependency is associated with measurable changes in brain activity in key executive function areas.
• Individuals may become readily reliant on Internet search tools when encountering novel or unknown information.