Surveillance tech is changing our behaviour – and our brains
Simply knowing we are being watched can unconsciously heighten our awareness of other people’s gaze write Kiley Seymour and Roger Koenig.
Picture: Vector Tradition/Adobe Stock
From self-service checkouts to public streets to stadiums – surveillance technology is everywhere.
This pervasive monitoring is often justified in the name of safety and security.
But our recent study, published in Neuroscience of Consciousness, reveals a disturbing side effect. Surveillance isn’t just changing our behaviour – it’s altering how our brains process information, operating largely outside our awareness.
Our research shows that simply knowing we are being watched can unconsciously heighten our awareness of other people’s gaze. These findings have potentially significant implications for mental health and social interaction.
They also urge for a deeper consideration of how constant monitoring might shape us – not just consciously, but also in the silent circuitry of our brains.
You can read the full article here: Surveillance tech is changing our behaviour – and our brains.
