Sean’s Weblog

HCI does it help learning? Could it result in depression?

Ignorance is bliss! or to quote “Thought would destroy their paradise. No more; where ignorance is bliss, ‘Tis folly to be wise.” the Thomas Gray Archive, Alexander Huber:- Editor, University of Oxford 2009. Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College, Line 98. (Poems). [Online] (Output created Mon Jul 27 2009 22:58:25 GMT) Available at: http://www.thomasgray.org/cgi-bin/display.cgi?text=odec [Accessed 28 July2009 00:17:30 GMT].

This may appear at first glance that an individual is giving in, had enough of the rat race and wants a simple life. Well life isn’t simple …

So let us look at why Mr Gray claimed ignorance to be bliss.

Line 88 “Lo, in the vale of years beneath ” The years are below us, and this is pertinent to what we are going to look at next. Age has an effect on the Brain, however we are not relating age with brain disorders such as alzheimers, parkinsons or similar neurodegenerative conditions.

We are simply going to look at 2 chemicals produced by the Brain and their differing production rates in relation to age and the effect this difference has on the psyche. How does this fit in to Human ComputerInteraction? How can learning be bad? Why can cognitive stimulus be dangerous?

Below may cause realisation, if one would like to remain ignorant and blissful, skip it and go make a cuppa.

To provide an example of how our Biological design differs with age I will offer this little snippet of fact, the mosquito ; 25 years of age indicates aging if this is to be believed. Try it yourself  The Mosquito Tone , we got down to 12KHz – but we are not that old,  maybe life has been hard on our hearing (Nightclub, Stereo, Car System, Surround Sound, Concerts, Traffic).

What this example offers us is the simple reflection of mortality. If we cannot hear it then it is for us to bring forth what is within us, and that is to accommodate the simple fact that age has an affect on us, and not such that can be seen or can be felt. At 25 we may not have wrinkles but our body is already becoming less nubile. Ignorance is bliss – a quick dose of botox and age is stopped isn’t it! Did You hear the mosquito? What we shouldn’t do is lie to ourself by convincing ourself we heard the mosquito,  if we didn’t.

Why is this question being asked?

In 2005 we were asked to produce a website specifically for a group of people aged 50+. This in itself was not really an issue if one empathises with the physical impairements that can occur at this age relating to dexterity, eyesight, hearing etc. The issue revolved around the conclusion of research which indicated that the introduction of a new website using modern web architecture could cause such users to suffer depression due to an imbalance of two chemicals in the brain as a result of age. And that as a web architect it was impossible to offer such a web interaction without a warning being issued to the user about it’s possibility of being a cause of depression.

The imbalance is simply caused by learning.

During Learning a chemical called Dopamine is released by the brain. Dopamine is a precursor to Adrenaline and affects a brains ability when processing movement, emotion and pleasure. Dopamine is also addictive, we have all heard of “Adrenaline Junkies” but today it doesn’t necessarily mean seeking dangerous pursuits.

Dopamine production reduces the older we get and we need to learn more, or pursue activities that stimulate Dopamine production for longer periods to get the same dopamine “high”. Without dopamine one may well suffer from Parkinsons disease, where Dopa is administered. So Dopamine is essential.

But where depression arrives from using computers and in learning, is that the brain also produces a hormone called GABA  – Gamma Aminobutyric Acid. This is the brains natural inhibitor to Dopamine, and as Dopamine is an upper in terms of sensual experiencing, GABA is a downer, a natural depressent. Unfortunately GABA production by the brain is not hindered by age, so when it detects dopamine it produces at the same level at 50 years of age as it did at 17 years of age. This causes excess GABA to be produced the older you get, and the resulting imbalance occurs due to less Dopamine being produced, and the amount of GABA production being constant. This causes excess GABA in proportion to the levels of Dopamine that is produced. Resulting in an unaturally depressed brain state. William James the American psychologist  wrote The Principles of Psychology vol1 & 2, which has merit today, and could be connected with the current Americanism “dumbing down” , and why do things need dumbing down? GABA!

With recent claims of computer use causing depression, the scientists also need to look at effects of re-skilling of those made redundant after many years in a role, the mature student and older workers training to use modern technology.

With a government that insists on re-skilling after destroying a long term job role and insisting that education is the best way forward, then what is truly the cause? Are we being pushed down a path of depression?

One aspect that deserves serious consideration for internet sites, redundancy re-skilling, re-training , personal improvement and education, is that any brain activity involving an aspect of learning over a ? age should also warrant a warning that involvement may cause depression to the individual.

Sorry if I’ve depressed you, bet you wished you had had that cuppa now!
 

Depression, Dopamine, GABA, William James