TV & The Brain
jenneferh2000
OK, another point my anti-TV friends bring up again and again is that
TV slows down the brain and puts it in a coma-like state (sleep
state?). It sends out harmful rays (waves?) I have been searching
(ok, not as hard as I could...) for research or scientific studies
that specifically state that TV physically slows down /prevents or
inhibits natural, good development /does damage the brain. Does
anyone know of specific such studies?
Jennefer in Oregon
("The Truth is Out There")
...or is it all relative?
TV slows down the brain and puts it in a coma-like state (sleep
state?). It sends out harmful rays (waves?) I have been searching
(ok, not as hard as I could...) for research or scientific studies
that specifically state that TV physically slows down /prevents or
inhibits natural, good development /does damage the brain. Does
anyone know of specific such studies?
Jennefer in Oregon
("The Truth is Out There")
...or is it all relative?
nellebelle
Since your friend knows this to be true, perhaps she can show you the studies that she is getting her information from. Then you can pick them apart using your superior logic skills. <G>
Mary Ellen
Mary Ellen
----- Original Message ----- OK, another point my anti-TV friends bring up again and again is that
TV slows down the brain and puts it in a coma-like state (sleep
state?). It sends out harmful rays (waves?) I have been searching
(ok, not as hard as I could...) for research or scientific studies
that specifically state that TV physically slows down /prevents or
inhibits natural, good development /does damage the brain.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
soggyboysmom
--- In [email protected], "jenneferh2000"
<jenneferh2000@y...> wrote:
him, TV is cause for bouncing, talking, jumping, playing, acting out
the plots, etc. Any data about TV sending out "harmful rays" is
probably about 50 or 60 yrs old now - is a TV screen any more
harmful than a computer screen? No, they're the *same* thing. If it
does anything harmful, then WOW my DS should have been a genius
because after 6 1/2 yrs of unfettered access, he's fine and dandy
and quite creative, energetic and spent the better part of the last
two days counting by 2s to 100.
Also, take most "studies" with a grain of salt because (a) they're
generally done on schooled, restricted kids (b) we're just barely
touching the surface on how the brain works.
<jenneferh2000@y...> wrote:
>that
> OK, another point my anti-TV friends bring up again and again is
> TV slows down the brain and puts it in a coma-like state (sleepGee maybe it can get my DS to relax on occasion then - because for
> state?). It sends out harmful rays (waves?) I have been searching
> (ok, not as hard as I could...) for research or scientific studies
> that specifically state that TV physically slows down /prevents or
> inhibits natural, good development /does damage the brain. Does
> anyone know of specific such studies?
>
> Jennefer in Oregon
> ("The Truth is Out There")
> ...or is it all relative?
him, TV is cause for bouncing, talking, jumping, playing, acting out
the plots, etc. Any data about TV sending out "harmful rays" is
probably about 50 or 60 yrs old now - is a TV screen any more
harmful than a computer screen? No, they're the *same* thing. If it
does anything harmful, then WOW my DS should have been a genius
because after 6 1/2 yrs of unfettered access, he's fine and dandy
and quite creative, energetic and spent the better part of the last
two days counting by 2s to 100.
Also, take most "studies" with a grain of salt because (a) they're
generally done on schooled, restricted kids (b) we're just barely
touching the surface on how the brain works.
[email protected]
In a message dated 2/18/2005 12:33:35 P.M. Mountain Standard Time,
nellebelle@... writes:
TV slows down the brain and puts it in a coma-like state (sleep
state?). It sends out harmful rays (waves?)
==================
Maybe wearing aluminum foil on our heads will save us!
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
nellebelle@... writes:
TV slows down the brain and puts it in a coma-like state (sleep
state?). It sends out harmful rays (waves?)
==================
Maybe wearing aluminum foil on our heads will save us!
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
carelia
SandraDodd@... wrote:
http://zapatopi.net/afdb.html
;)
--
carelia ~ C. Norton
carelia@...
http://home.earthlink.net/~carelia/cheryl.html
"The most effective kind of education is that a child should play amongst lovely things." ~ Plato
>Not just foil! Try this:
>In a message dated 2/18/2005 12:33:35 P.M. Mountain Standard Time,
>nellebelle@... writes:
>
>TV slows down the brain and puts it in a coma-like state (sleep
>state?). It sends out harmful rays (waves?)
>
>
>==================
>
>Maybe wearing aluminum foil on our heads will save us!
>
http://zapatopi.net/afdb.html
;)
--
carelia ~ C. Norton
carelia@...
http://home.earthlink.net/~carelia/cheryl.html
"The most effective kind of education is that a child should play amongst lovely things." ~ Plato
[email protected]
In a message dated 2/18/2005 12:33:35 P.M. Mountain Standard Time,
nellebelle@... writes:
TV slows down the brain and puts it in a coma-like state (sleep
state?). It sends out harmful rays (waves?)
============
This SO so bugs me. Parents to say "too much radiation" might not be all
wrong but nobody sits as close to a TV as we're all sitting to near-same
cathode ray tubes (not counting the all-fancy laptop screens and who knows what
brain-numbing effect THEY must be having, when the picture disappears if you
look from the edge).
And BRAIN SLOWING!?
My brain can whip those brains' butts who believe the first "study" they
think they kinda read on the INTERNET that will justify their treating their
children like brain-fragile little proto-people.
[I'm cranky because the theater changed its schedule overnight. Theaters
should change schedules on Tuesday or Wednesday, not Thursday. So Kirby and
Holly agreed to go to see Meet the Fokkers with me and I was really giddy about
finally getting to see it, and when we got there they said it's not showing
until 9:30; they changed the schedule last night. HOlly has to go to the
orthodontist later and Kirby works at 4:30 and I have something going tonight,
and Kirby works at noon tomorrow, so the fact that it's showing all afternoon
half an hour away doesn't save me. Whiney rant over. NO, wait--if I could go
to the movies by myself I'd have less to whine about. I can go shopping
alone. I went to the graveyard alone to collect old wax out of luminarias in
the DARK, but I cannot go to a movie alone, so I'm mad at me.]
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
nellebelle@... writes:
TV slows down the brain and puts it in a coma-like state (sleep
state?). It sends out harmful rays (waves?)
============
This SO so bugs me. Parents to say "too much radiation" might not be all
wrong but nobody sits as close to a TV as we're all sitting to near-same
cathode ray tubes (not counting the all-fancy laptop screens and who knows what
brain-numbing effect THEY must be having, when the picture disappears if you
look from the edge).
And BRAIN SLOWING!?
My brain can whip those brains' butts who believe the first "study" they
think they kinda read on the INTERNET that will justify their treating their
children like brain-fragile little proto-people.
[I'm cranky because the theater changed its schedule overnight. Theaters
should change schedules on Tuesday or Wednesday, not Thursday. So Kirby and
Holly agreed to go to see Meet the Fokkers with me and I was really giddy about
finally getting to see it, and when we got there they said it's not showing
until 9:30; they changed the schedule last night. HOlly has to go to the
orthodontist later and Kirby works at 4:30 and I have something going tonight,
and Kirby works at noon tomorrow, so the fact that it's showing all afternoon
half an hour away doesn't save me. Whiney rant over. NO, wait--if I could go
to the movies by myself I'd have less to whine about. I can go shopping
alone. I went to the graveyard alone to collect old wax out of luminarias in
the DARK, but I cannot go to a movie alone, so I'm mad at me.]
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Deb Lewis
***Whiney rant over.***
I'm sorry, what was that? I had this foil hat on and must have missed
it...
***TV slows down the brain and puts it in a coma-like state (sleep
state?). It sends out harmful rays (waves?)***
No, I think your friend is confusing TV with my mother in law.
I think what those studies found was that people relax in front of the TV
after a stressful day at school/wherever.
Studies found that people can have "changed" brain activity while
watching TV they didn't find people had "brain damage" while watching.
There's a difference.
I bet if they measured anyone doing the thing they found most relaxing
and stress free they'd find changes in brain activity. Sitting in a hot
tub, getting a massage, lounging in a hammock...
I'm changing mine right now, listening to Joe Brown.
Deb L
I'm sorry, what was that? I had this foil hat on and must have missed
it...
***TV slows down the brain and puts it in a coma-like state (sleep
state?). It sends out harmful rays (waves?)***
No, I think your friend is confusing TV with my mother in law.
I think what those studies found was that people relax in front of the TV
after a stressful day at school/wherever.
Studies found that people can have "changed" brain activity while
watching TV they didn't find people had "brain damage" while watching.
There's a difference.
I bet if they measured anyone doing the thing they found most relaxing
and stress free they'd find changes in brain activity. Sitting in a hot
tub, getting a massage, lounging in a hammock...
I'm changing mine right now, listening to Joe Brown.
Deb L
Barbara Chase
>OK, another point my anti-TV friends bring up again and again is thatI've actually got some of this information in my brain somewhere (gee, must
>TV slows down the brain and puts it in a coma-like state
have been watching too much TV lately ;-) With most of it I have yet to be
able to verify any studies associated with the conclusions, and often they
are just plane speculation.
Anyway, my most meaningful source of information about the brain has been
from my brother, a neuropsychologist. He pointed out to me that most of
the information used to make arguments against tv was based on a completely
outdated notion of how the human brain works (with the old reptilian brain,
and then newer brains added on over time.) Anyway, this old notion just
doesn't stand up to what the current research today shows us about the
brain. Our brains are completely adaptive, and if we have technology as a
part of our lives then our brains adapt to that and use it to gather new
information.
If you really want details, I can try to drag them out of the cob webs.
Barbara
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
nellebelle
>>>>>Also, take most "studies" with a grain of salt because (a) they're generally done on schooled, restricted kids (b) we're just barely touching the surface on how the brain works.If you really want to learn something from any study, read the original report on the study by the people who did the study. Look at who sponsored the study, what they were looking for, what they found, the methodology, whether there was a control group, how long the study lasted, and every other little detail.
>>>>>
The news media often picks out little pieces of a study and that usually gives people very innacurate information about the study's results.
I am reading Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book. I liked the section on what we know about cancer, how we know it, and how many more questions we don't know the answers to.
Mary Ellen
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Heidi Here
Maybe wearing aluminum foil on our heads will save us!
LOL , I loved that in Signs!!
Heidi
LOL , I loved that in Signs!!
Heidi
----- Original Message -----
From: SandraDodd@...
To: [email protected]
Sent: Friday, February 18, 2005 3:25 PM
Subject: Re: [UnschoolingDiscussion] TV & The Brain
In a message dated 2/18/2005 12:33:35 P.M. Mountain Standard Time,
nellebelle@... writes:
TV slows down the brain and puts it in a coma-like state (sleep
state?). It sends out harmful rays (waves?)
==================
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
"List Posting Policies" are provided in the files area of this group.
Visit the Unschooling website and message boards: http://www.unschooling.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yahoo! Groups Links
a.. To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UnschoolingDiscussion/
b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[email protected]
c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Dawn Adams
> OK, another point my anti-TV friends bring up again and again is thatWhy not just ask your friends for that proof?
> TV slows down the brain and puts it in a coma-like state (sleep
> state?). It sends out harmful rays (waves?) I have been searching
> (ok, not as hard as I could...) for research or scientific studies
> that specifically state that TV physically slows down /prevents or
> inhibits natural, good development /does damage the brain. Does
> anyone know of specific such studies?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Dawn (in NS)
Heidi
Hi
I'd say, take ALL studies with a HANDFUL of salt, because of the
reasons you cite, plus...the researchers are looking for certain
results, and people have been known to...okay, I think they do it on
purpose, but maybe they're just so enamored of their theories, that
any little sliver of anything pointing in even the general direction
of their precious ideas, comes across as validating them...but I'm
cynical. I think researchers are not beyond slapping downright lies
into their studies, in order to prove a point.
blessings, heidiC who also thinks journalists should be taken w/at
least a pinch of salt. Question everything.
I'd say, take ALL studies with a HANDFUL of salt, because of the
reasons you cite, plus...the researchers are looking for certain
results, and people have been known to...okay, I think they do it on
purpose, but maybe they're just so enamored of their theories, that
any little sliver of anything pointing in even the general direction
of their precious ideas, comes across as validating them...but I'm
cynical. I think researchers are not beyond slapping downright lies
into their studies, in order to prove a point.
blessings, heidiC who also thinks journalists should be taken w/at
least a pinch of salt. Question everything.
>
> Also, take most "studies" with a grain of salt because (a) they're
> generally done on schooled, restricted kids (b) we're just barely
> touching the surface on how the brain works.
kayb85
So Kirby and
Fockers? I haven't seen it myself but have heard people discussing
it.
Sheila
> Holly agreed to go to see Meet the Fokkers with me and I wasreally giddy about
> finally getting to see it, and when we got there they said it'snot showing
> until 9:30; they changed the schedule last nightHave you heard that they mention the Continuum Concept in Meet the
Fockers? I haven't seen it myself but have heard people discussing
it.
Sheila
jenneferh2000
--- In [email protected], "nellebelle"
<nellebelle@c...> wrote:
pick them apart using your superior logic skills. <G>
*******************
Well, of course this is exactly what I had to do! ;-)
My friend sent me an article, actually a paper written as part of a
senior project for the Waldorf Teacher Training Program (sigh) titled
Strangers in Our Homes by Susan R. Johnson, MD. Ms. Johnson is an
Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Behavioral
and Developmental Pediatrics, UCSF/Stanford Health Care. Oh, yes, and
also a graduate from the Rudolph Steiner Teacher Training Program.
She presented the paper in 1999 to the Waldorf School of San
Francisco.
So, completely biased to begin with, but I read it in its entirety
nonetheless. I would have pasted it here but it is about 17 pages
long. As a previous poster noted, most of her studies cited were
outdated using the Reptilian R-System for the core brain model.
Also, two of her studies cited were from 1985.
To the poster who has a neuropsychologist as a brother (?), if you
could offer us (me?) current research info, I would be so grateful!
My friend maintained that her eye doctor says TV watching damages the
eyes, and herself limits her child to one movie per week. She gave
no further specifics.
Jennefer in Oregon
<nellebelle@c...> wrote:
> Since your friend knows this to be true, perhaps she can show youthe studies that she is getting her information from. Then you can
pick them apart using your superior logic skills. <G>
*******************
Well, of course this is exactly what I had to do! ;-)
My friend sent me an article, actually a paper written as part of a
senior project for the Waldorf Teacher Training Program (sigh) titled
Strangers in Our Homes by Susan R. Johnson, MD. Ms. Johnson is an
Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Behavioral
and Developmental Pediatrics, UCSF/Stanford Health Care. Oh, yes, and
also a graduate from the Rudolph Steiner Teacher Training Program.
She presented the paper in 1999 to the Waldorf School of San
Francisco.
So, completely biased to begin with, but I read it in its entirety
nonetheless. I would have pasted it here but it is about 17 pages
long. As a previous poster noted, most of her studies cited were
outdated using the Reptilian R-System for the core brain model.
Also, two of her studies cited were from 1985.
To the poster who has a neuropsychologist as a brother (?), if you
could offer us (me?) current research info, I would be so grateful!
My friend maintained that her eye doctor says TV watching damages the
eyes, and herself limits her child to one movie per week. She gave
no further specifics.
Jennefer in Oregon
>OK, another point my anti-TV friends bring up again and again is
>that
> TV slows down the brain and puts it in a coma-like state (sleep
> state?). It sends out harmful rays (waves?) I have been searching
> (ok, not as hard as I could...) for research or scientific
>studies
> that specifically state that TV physically slows down /prevents
>or
> inhibits natural, good development /does damage the brain.
Barbara Chase
>To the poster who has a neuropsychologist as a brother (?), if youI'll do this at some point, but it will take awhile I'm sure. I think I'll
>could offer us (me?) current research info, I would be so grateful!
ask him if he wouldn't mind criticing the article for me/us.
Mahalo,
Barbara
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Elizabeth Hill
**My friend sent me an article, actually a paper written as part of a
senior project for the Waldorf Teacher Training Program (sigh) titled
Strangers in Our Homes by Susan R. Johnson, MD.**
I want to riff a little on the word "stranger". It used to just mean
"outsider", but now, due to public service announcements and special
Oprah episodes, we all know it rhymes with "danger" and are likely to
think of "danger" when we hear the word. I think the use of this word
in the title is intended to get people worked up.
Over the course of my life, I've met lots of wonderful people who used
to be strangers to me. (And most of them aren't as strange as I am.
<g>) I've made friends on this list with unknown people that I met
through the dangerous <g> new medium of the internet. I've invited
whole homeschooling families over to my house sight-unseen. (and
lived!) I wouldn't recommend this for everyone, but I have a friend who
added a roommate to her household after meeting him playing role-playing
games on the internet. (I've met him many times, and he's very nice.)
The idea that everyone out there is an axe-murder (or that every TV show
is about murder) has been wildly overblown. Strangers are people, too.
Betsy
senior project for the Waldorf Teacher Training Program (sigh) titled
Strangers in Our Homes by Susan R. Johnson, MD.**
I want to riff a little on the word "stranger". It used to just mean
"outsider", but now, due to public service announcements and special
Oprah episodes, we all know it rhymes with "danger" and are likely to
think of "danger" when we hear the word. I think the use of this word
in the title is intended to get people worked up.
Over the course of my life, I've met lots of wonderful people who used
to be strangers to me. (And most of them aren't as strange as I am.
<g>) I've made friends on this list with unknown people that I met
through the dangerous <g> new medium of the internet. I've invited
whole homeschooling families over to my house sight-unseen. (and
lived!) I wouldn't recommend this for everyone, but I have a friend who
added a roommate to her household after meeting him playing role-playing
games on the internet. (I've met him many times, and he's very nice.)
The idea that everyone out there is an axe-murder (or that every TV show
is about murder) has been wildly overblown. Strangers are people, too.
Betsy
queenjane555
> I want to riff a little on the word "stranger".Not only that but when it comes to TV, i don't feel like its a
stranger at all. It might be kinda sad or pathetic to people who
don't watch alot of tv, but many of the characters on shows seem
like old friends. I was catching a program on SoapNet (soap opera
channel, yes they have one!)celebrating the 35th (i think)
Anniversary of the soap All My Children. They had actors on who'd
been on the show all that time. As i washed dishes i thought about
how someone like "Erica Kane" has been part of the landscape of my
life my *entire* life...i dont remember a time before Erica Kane! So
how is she a stranger?? (My mom was really into soaps when i was
growing up and still watches them.)
I think its kind of nice that my son could watch Sesame Street and i
can say "I watched that when i was a kid." But maybe Waldorf thinks
the Big Bird is some evil kidnapper or something?;o)
Katherine
[email protected]
-=-But maybe Waldorf thinks
the Big Bird is some evil kidnapper or something?;o)-=-
And how does Waldorf feel about aluminum helmets to prevent Big Bird reading a child's thoughts or inserting happy songs about crossing the street?? Would a wooden helmet even WORK!? NO WAY is a silk-scarf turban or veil going to block mind control waves.
When I was a kid, Miss Marron (was that her name? on Romper Room?) said to put on our thinking caps. And there was a cartoon of some sort with a thinking cap that looked like a funnel.
And I WANTED to channel Micky Mouse. Maybe an aluminum foil hat with Mickey Mouse ears on it would've helped. No, wait! I had real Mickey Mouse ears I used to wear.
This hat-wearing thing was deeply engrained in the 50's, in the early days of TVs. An antenna right on the head! Ears (which are literally for taking in aural stimuli, TV antennaes were called "rabbit ears"). The funnel had a point WITH A HOLE in it!! And romper room had a little circle of mind control that went "Do be a DO BEE, don't be a don't be," and I think there were antennae with that too!! Little springy BEE THINGS!!!
No wonder I think TV is good.
It filled me early on with fun and positive ideas and songs and images of happy children playing games and riding stick horses and singing.
Sandra
the Big Bird is some evil kidnapper or something?;o)-=-
And how does Waldorf feel about aluminum helmets to prevent Big Bird reading a child's thoughts or inserting happy songs about crossing the street?? Would a wooden helmet even WORK!? NO WAY is a silk-scarf turban or veil going to block mind control waves.
When I was a kid, Miss Marron (was that her name? on Romper Room?) said to put on our thinking caps. And there was a cartoon of some sort with a thinking cap that looked like a funnel.
And I WANTED to channel Micky Mouse. Maybe an aluminum foil hat with Mickey Mouse ears on it would've helped. No, wait! I had real Mickey Mouse ears I used to wear.
This hat-wearing thing was deeply engrained in the 50's, in the early days of TVs. An antenna right on the head! Ears (which are literally for taking in aural stimuli, TV antennaes were called "rabbit ears"). The funnel had a point WITH A HOLE in it!! And romper room had a little circle of mind control that went "Do be a DO BEE, don't be a don't be," and I think there were antennae with that too!! Little springy BEE THINGS!!!
No wonder I think TV is good.
It filled me early on with fun and positive ideas and songs and images of happy children playing games and riding stick horses and singing.
Sandra