How Our Ancient Brains Are Coping in the Age of Digital Distraction | Discover Magazine

How Our Ancient Brains Are Coping in the Age of Digital Distraction | Discover Magazine: "One reason is that, like all animals, we evolved to switch attention instantly when we sense danger: the snapping twig that might signal an approaching predator, the shadow that could indicate an enemy behind a tree. Our goal-directed, or top-down, mental activities stand little chance against these bottom-up forces of novelty and saliency — stimuli that are unexpected, sudden or dramatic, or that evoke memories of important experiences."