The document discusses how screen-based devices are rewiring the brain through plasticity, the brain's ability to change and adapt by forming new pathways in response to experience. While this plasticity allows old neural networks to change throughout life, it also poses potential downsides. Some scientists worry that modern digital media could reshape our brains in ways that increase attention disorders, screen addictions, and reduce social skills in future generations. However, technologies may also improve creativity when used properly. If the effects of technology are very negative, education may need to be delivered through only brief animations in the future.

1. Read on!
Krisztian Vargahttp://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02hj624
7. Nowlook at the text.Screen-baseddevices and rewiring the brainare
collocations(common word partnerships) from the text. Findanother 10 examples.
9. Findat leastsynonyms each for
the followingwords.
Adapt
Modern
Downside
To boost
To turn out
Do you worry that screen-based devices – computers, video
games, smartphones, tablets – are rewiring your brain? Perhaps
you should; because they certainly are. That’s because everything
you do transforms the connections in your brain. Plasticity is the
brain’s remarkable ability to change and adapt; forming new
pathways in response to experience. And it occurs throughout life.
Neuroscientists used to believe that as we aged neural networks
became fixed; but now the consensus is that the brain adapts all
the time and that you CAN teach old dogs new tricks.
Yet, brain plasticity has a potential downside. The scientist Susan
Greenfield believes that we could be at risk from modern digital
media. Electronic gadgets are literally reshaping our brains and
we don’t know yet how far reaching the effects will be. She is
concerned that future generations may be plagued with
attention-disorders, screen-addictions and poor social skills. Of
course new technologies can also change us for the better and she
is also suggesting they could be used to boost creativity. But if
things turn out really badly, in the future education will all have
to be delivered in two-minute animations.
10. Find at least one word with a
similarmeaning from the text for…
Worry
Change
Believe
Connection
All the time
8. How would you explainthe followingwordsto an intermediate level English
learner? Gadget,remarkable,occur,pathway,animation
11. Where do you stand in terms ofmodern technology?Do you share Susan
Greenfield’sworryor do you embrace newadvances? Discuss!