The speed with which artificial intelligence develops has caused excitement, but also intense concern about how our everyday life, work and thinking will change. The neuroscientist Hannah Critchlow argues that, instead of wondering how to compete with machines, it may be more useful to consider which human abilities will gain greater value in the coming years.
In her book The 21st Century Brain, Cambridge University researcher was examining(i) what skills will prove critical at a time of constant social and technological change. Although the human brain has not evolved biologically at the same rate that the world around us changes, it considers that it still has considerable adaptability and potential for growth.
The skills that machines will hardly copy
Critchlow places particular emphasis on abilities that are often underestimated, such as empathy, creativity, long-term thinking and cooperation ability. According to her, these skills will become even more important in an environment where automation will take on more and more technical or repetitive tasks.
As he explains, modern man is asked to manage unprecedented levels of uncertainty and speed changes. It therefore considers the adjustment capacity to be decisive, but also the resistance to the ambiguity and pressure of continuous information.
Empathy is not «soft skill»
Emotional intelligence and empathy are not merely social traits, but factors that substantially affect a person’s quality of life, human relationships and even the professional or academic course. Critchlow notes that, although some of these characteristics are related to genetic predisposition, can be enhanced through experience and conscious practice.
One of the first steps, according to her, is to learn to recognize and understand one’s personal feelings. This process helps not only to manage anxiety but also to better understand other people and their needs.
Could the intestine affect our behavior?
One of the most interesting points that Critchlow mentions is the connection between the brain and the intestine. Invoking recent investigations, he argues that the gut microbial —i.e. bacteria living in the digestive system— may affect not only physical health, but also social behavior.
In a study he mentions, volunteers who consumed probiotics and prebiotics for seven weeks showed greater willingness to operate more altruistically and share money with other participants, compared to those who received placebo. Although scientists have not yet fully reached the mechanisms behind this phenomenon, they estimate that some bowel bacteria affect the functioning of the nervous system through chemical substances and neurotransmitters.
Facebook Twitter Neuroscientist Hannah Critchlow argues that creativity, empathy and adaptability will gain greater value in the era of artificial intelligence. Photo: Adam Mracek
An important role also appears to play the pneumogastric nerve, which connects the intestine to areas of the brain associated with decision making, perception, and emotional processing. The idea that diet and bowel health can affect mood and behavior is now considered one of the most active fields of research in neuroscience.
How daydreaming enhances creativity
Creativity, according to Critchlow, is not an exclusive feature of genius personalities such as Mozart or Ada Lovelace. Rather, he considers that all people have creative possibilities, which can be strengthened through certain habits and states of the mind.
One of the basic elements is the daydreaming and wandering of thought. As he says, a significant part of the day the human brain does not focus on a specific goal, but lets thoughts move more freely. This situation seems to facilitate the connection of ideas and the production of new ways of thinking.
Contact with nature and moments of relaxation can also enhance creativity, as they are associated with brain waves that favor calm and creative thinking. Similarly, sleep and especially the phase just before someone falls asleep is considered particularly important for the production of new ideas and creative information processing.
Because exercise also protects the brain
Physical exercise affects not only the body, but also brain function. According to Critchlow, physical activity enhances the creation of new nerve cells and connections, which helps the brain to remain flexible and able to adapt to new data and information.
Facebook Twitter Exercise can enhance the development of neural and nerve connections, contributing to the protection of the brain as we grow older. Photo: Unsplash
The Keep this «nervous flexibility» is considered particularly important at a time when people are constantly asked to process new information and adapt to technological and social changes. Regular exercise is also associated with better memory, increased concentration, and less risk of cognitive impairment during aging.
What is the «bioenergy» brain
Another key element that Critchlow is examining is the so-called «bioenergy» brain function, i.e. the way cells produce and manage the energy needed by the organism to think, process information and make decisions.
Central to this process are mitochondria, which are often described as «Energy plants» cell counts. The brain consumes large amounts of energy on a daily basis and, according to neuroscientist, the good functioning of mitochondria directly affects clarity, concentration and cognitive endurance.
For this reason, She places particular emphasis on daily habits such as exercise, adequate sleep and balanced diet. Physical activity helps the body produce more mitochondria, while sleep helps remove useless substances accumulated during energy production. At the same time, limited consumption of sugar and overprocessed foods is considered important for the proper functioning of the brain and nervous system.
How to manage the uncertainty of modern life
Critchlow acknowledges that the human brain often finds it difficult to manage uncertainty and rapid changes. However, he notes that curiosity, the need for exploration and the desire for innovation are also deeply human characteristics.
As he argues, tension between fear of change and the need for progress has always existed in human history. Accepting this contradiction may be one of the most important steps to be able to adapt more effectively to the demands of the modern world.
Facebook Twitter A walk in nature can free thought and enhance creativity. Photo: Unsplash
What does one ultimately mean? «Smart» A brain in the 21st century?
For Critchlow, the brain of the future is not necessarily the one who memorizes more information or works faster than a machine. Instead, it considers that the most important human abilities will be adaptability, creativity, empathy and ability to manage uncertainty.
At a time when artificial intelligence can take on more and more analytical or repetitive tasks, the skills related to imagination, cooperation and emotional understanding may become even more important. She argues that the cultivation of these characteristics does not require any radical «upgrade» the human brain, but better use of the potential it already possesses.
At the same time, it places particular emphasis on daily habits that can enhance cognitive function and mental resilience, όπως ο επαρκής ύπνος, η τακτική άσκηση, η ισορροπημένη διατροφή, ο χρόνος για χαλάρωση και δημιουργική σκέψη, καθώς και η ουσιαστική κοινωνική επαφή. Σύμφωνα με τη νευροεπιστήμονα, αυτές οι συνήθειες δεν επηρεάζουν μόνο τη σωματική υγεία, αλλά και τον τρόπο με τον οποίο ο εγκέφαλος επεξεργάζεται πληροφορίες, προσαρμόζεται και λαμβάνει αποφάσεις.
Η βασική πρόκληση, όπως σημειώνει, ίσως δεν είναι να συμβαδίσουμε με την ταχύτητα των μηχανών, αλλά να διατηρήσουμε τα χαρακτηριστικά που κάνουν την ανθρώπινη νοημοσύνη διαφορετική. Σε έναν κόσμο συνεχούς τεχνολογικής αλλαγής, η ικανότητα να παραμένει κανείς περίεργος, δημιουργικός και ψυχικά ευέλικτος μπορεί να αποδειχθεί εξίσου σημαντική με οποιαδήποτε τεχνική γνώση.
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