As humans begin to age, their brains start to shrink and experience reductions in cell activity. For a long time, activities such as cross-word puzzles, and (in Chinese culture) mah jong, were considered practices that can help keep the brain active and counter-act the age related slow downs of the brain. Now, according to a study in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, surfing the Web can also be added to such activities.

The UCLA  research team found that while activities like reading books produced significant activity in regions of the brain controlling language, reading, memory and visual abilities… web search task produced significant additional activity in separate areas of the brain controlling decision-making and complex reasoning (only in experienced web users).

Left: Brain activity while reading a book (experienced web surfer)

Right:Brain activity while surfing the web (experienced web surfer)

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