FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 24, 2009
Media Contact: Michael Corby 904.632.3310

Technology and its Impact on the Brain: Gary Small, M.D., a world-leading expert on Brain Science to address Florida State College Scholars’ Round Table October 13
Do tweets and texts, iPods and the Internet affect your life? How about your brain?

What:	“Technology: Its Impact on Brain Wiring and Development” A presentation by Gary Small, M.D., top innovator in science and technology; Director of UCLA Memory and Aging Research Center. Q&A and book signing to follow presentation.
When:	Oct. 13, 2009 at 6:45 p.m.
Where:	Florida State College at Jacksonville, South Campus Nathan H. Wilson Center for the Arts 11901 Beach Blvd. (east of St. Johns Bluff Road)
Cost:	Free and open to the public; ticket required for admission.
Tickets:	Required for admission, may be obtained at Student Life offices at Downtown, Kent, North and South campuses and at the Deerwood Center until noon Oct. 7. Public may call 904-632-3170 for ticket information. Visit http://www.fccj.edu/campuses/index.html for campus locations.

Details: “Recent research indicates that repeated exposure to new technology is altering brain circuitry, and young developing brains, which usually have the greatest exposure, are the most vulnerable,” states Gary Small, M.D., one of the world’s leading experts on brain science. “Instead of the traditional generation gap, we are witnessing the beginning of a brain gap separating digital natives, born into 24/7 technology, and digital immigrants, who came to computers and other digital technology as adults. I am confident that we can bridge this brain gap by upgrading the technology skills of digital immigrants and teaching better social skills to digital natives,” says Dr. Small.

And from an educational standpoint: “A key question to then ask is what effect those changes will have on learning and how we teach,” said Robert Greene, Florida State College professor of Education and chair of the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning.

Students and community members will have chance to have that question and many others about brain science answered by Dr. Small at The Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning and the Faculty Senate’s Fourth Scholars’ Round Table.

Dr. Small’s research has made the headlines of The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today and other publications. Scientific American magazine has named him one of the world’s top innovators in science and technology. Dr. Small’s research reveals the extraordinary changes occurring in the brain as a result of the constant presence of technology. He expounds on this topic in his latest book “iBrain: Surviving the Technological Alteration of the Modern Mind,” co-authored with Gigi Vorgan.

Among Dr. Small’s breakthroughs is the invention of the first brain scan that allows doctors to see the physical evidence of brain aging and Alzheimer’s disease in living people. He also leads a team of neuroscientists who are demonstrating that exposure to computer technology causes rapid and profound changes in brain neural circuitry.

MEDIA NOTE: Dr. Small will meet with media at 6:15 p.m. at the Wilson Center prior to his 6:45 p.m. address. A number of tickets are being held for media wishing to attend the address. Tickets are not necessary for the media event.