How Our Memories Are Altered by Digital Technology
Léwis Verdun
Editeur: Five Minutes Editions
In a world where our memories seem to dissolve in the constant flow of notifications, How Our Memories Are Altered by Digital Technology offers a nuanced, evidence based look at digital amnesia . Drawing on recent studies (2024-2026), the author shows that delegating our memory to search engines and smartphones changes the very architecture of our recollections. Far from apocalyptic rhetoric, this book demonstrates that technology can also strengthen cognitive abilities : active use of a computer or smartphone reduces the risk of cognitive decline in seniors and frees up resources for creativity. Yet the permanent reliance on GPS and assistants can atrophy our sense of direction, weaken attention and diminish long term retention. The book proposes concrete strategies : taking handwritten notes, limiting interruptions and practising spaced retrieval to cultivate an augmented memory. It is an invitation to reconcile internal memory with digital tools in order to remain masters of our knowledge.