---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Internet is just one of those things…"
description: "\"The Internet is just one of those things that contemporary humans can spend millions of 'practice' events at, that the average human a thousand years a..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e2/michael-merzenich-45455_average_the-internet-is-just-one-of-those-things_543822.jpg"
---

#  The Internet is just one of those things that contemporary…

![“The Internet is just one of those things that contemporary humans can spend millions of 'practice' events at, that the average human a thousand years ago had absolutely no exposure to. Our brains are massively remodeled by this exposure-but so, too, by reading, by television, by video games, by…” quote by Michael Merzenich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e2/michael-merzenich-45455_average_the-internet-is-just-one-of-those-things_543822.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e2/michael-merzenich-45455_average_the-internet-is-just-one-of-those-things_543822.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e2/michael-merzenich-45455_average_the-internet-is-just-one-of-those-things_543822.jpg)

> “The Internet is just one of those things that contemporary humans can spend millions of 'practice' events at, that the average human a thousand years ago had absolutely no exposure to. Our brains are massively remodeled by this exposure-but so, too, by reading, by television, by video games, by modern electronics, by contemporary music, by contemporary 'tools,' etc.”

[Michael Merzenich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-merzenich/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Modern media reshapes brains, offering massive practice opportunities absent in ancient times

**In simple terms:** Technology rewires minds

Key Takeaway

Leverage digital tools wisely

Themes

neuroscience technology learning

Mood

informative cautious

Type

educational scientific

When to use this quote

- education
- gaming
- media consumption
- skill acquisition

Key Concepts

neuroplasticity digital immersion

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we balance digital practice with depth?
- What habits protect against cognitive overload?

A Different Perspective

Overexposure can lead to distraction and shallow processing

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Contemporary music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemporary-music/) [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [Exposure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exposure/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Internet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internet/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Thousand years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thousand-years/) [Tools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tools/) [Video](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/video/) [Video games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/video-games/)

## Related quotes

> [Obviously there are pieces of classical music that are some of the most beautiful music ever written, for me anyway is a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-dessner/obviously-there-are-pieces-of-classical-music-that-are-some-of-the/)

[Bryce Dessner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-dessner/)

> [The first thing that struck me about contemporary music in general had been thatthere was not much interest in rhythm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-carter/the-first-thing-that-struck-me-about-contemporary-music-in-general/)

[Elliott Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-carter/)

> [Morley is one of the outstanding voices of her generation, as a singer, songwriter and bandleader she's in a class of her own, transcends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-amram/morley-is-one-of-the-outstanding-voices-of-her-generation-as-a-singer/)

[David Amram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-amram/)

> [Edgar Meyer's violin concerto was the first piece of contemporary music I worked on in any depth. I was 18 or 19.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-hahn/edgar-meyer-s-violin-concerto-was-the-first-piece-of-contemporary/)

[Hilary Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-hahn/)

> [I don't think anyone listening to my music needs any special knowledge. They don't need to have a background in contemporary music. They don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/missy-mazzoli/i-don-t-think-anyone-listening-to-my-music-needs-any-special/)

[Missy Mazzoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/missy-mazzoli/)

> [My work has been marginalized as far as the jazz-business complex is concerned, or the contemporary-music complex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-braxton/my-work-has-been-marginalized-as-far-as-the-jazz-business-complex-is/)

[Anthony Braxton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-braxton/)

> [On 'Underground,' we had used contemporary music to pull you into the present and not just look at it as a portrait on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-green/on-underground-we-had-used-contemporary-music-to-pull-you-into-the/)

[Misha Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-green/)

> [My mother was a classical pianist and my stepfather was an industrialist who was passionate about composing contemporary music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-bruni/my-mother-was-a-classical-pianist-and-my-stepfather-was-an/)

[Carla Bruni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-bruni/)

> [These wealthy people were very interested in contemporary music. They wanted to help diffuse it and get it to be known to other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-carter/these-wealthy-people-were-very-interested-in-contemporary-music-they/)

[Elliott Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-carter/)

> [I have always personally preferred to think of what is more difficult for my instrument, and not what is the most natural or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michala-petri/i-have-always-personally-preferred-to-think-of-what-is-more-difficult/)

[Michala Petri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michala-petri/)

> [Then, when the Depression came, all of this changed completely. Since that time, the entire public is of a very different sort and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-carter/then-when-the-depression-came-all-of-this-changed-completely-since/)

[Elliott Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-carter/)

> [I've realised that if it is to remain relevant, contemporary music needs to change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryuichi-sakamoto/i-ve-realised-that-if-it-is-to-remain-relevant-contemporary-music/)

[Ryuichi Sakamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryuichi-sakamoto/)

> [You know, I listen to contemporary music all the time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-de-palma/you-know-i-listen-to-contemporary-music-all-the-time/)

[Brian De Palma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-de-palma/)

> [I feel that contemporary music, with very few exceptions, is missing the voice. You see an award show, you see a hundred extras on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-davis/i-feel-that-contemporary-music-with-very-few-exceptions-is-missing/)

[Clive Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-davis/)

> [What people don't understand is that my dad isn't up on the contemporary music scene. He's been a legend for decades and he doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexa-ray-joel/what-people-don-t-understand-is-that-my-dad-isn-t-up-on-the/)

[Alexa Ray Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexa-ray-joel/)

## More by Michael Merzenich

> [The patterns of activity of neurons in sensory areas can be altered by patterns of attention. Experience coupled with attention leads to physical changes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-merzenich/the-patterns-of-activity-of-neurons-in-sensory-areas-can-be-altered/)

[Michael Merzenich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-merzenich/)

> [My brain power depends on my retained mastery of analyzing in detail what's happening in my world and in my mind and body. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-merzenich/my-brain-power-depends-on-my-retained-mastery-of-analyzing-in-detail/)

[Michael Merzenich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-merzenich/)

> [My mantra: Brainless exercise is a lost opportunity for improvement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-merzenich/my-mantra-brainless-exercise-is-a-lost-opportunity-for-improvement/)

[Michael Merzenich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-merzenich/)

> [To learn is to change how you think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-merzenich/to-learn-is-to-change-how-you-think/)

[Michael Merzenich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-merzenich/)

> [Rather marvelously, the older brain only permits change when it judges that change to be important, rewarding or good for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-merzenich/rather-marvelously-the-older-brain-only-permits-change-when-it-judges/)

[Michael Merzenich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-merzenich/)

> [If a brain is exercised properly, anyone can grow intelligence, at any age, and potentially by a lot. Or you can just let your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-merzenich/if-a-brain-is-exercised-properly-anyone-can-grow-intelligence-at-any/)

[Michael Merzenich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-merzenich/)

> [Learning a new skill can change hundreds of millions of cortical connections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-merzenich/learning-a-new-skill-can-change-hundreds-of-millions-of-cortical/)

[Michael Merzenich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-merzenich/)

> [Your brain - every brain - is a work in progress. It is 'plastic.' From the day we're born to the day we die,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-merzenich/your-brain-every-brain-is-a-work-in-progress-it-is-plastic-from-the/)

[Michael Merzenich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-merzenich/)

[Explore all 9 Michael Merzenich quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-merzenich/)

## More Average quotes

> [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/)

Brian Reade

> [There were times last year when people looked at the scoreboard and thought my batting average was the temperature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-martinez/there-were-times-last-year-when-people-looked-at-the-scoreboard-and/)

Buck Martinez

> [The average condition of the people improving or deteriorating, depends upon whether population is advancing faster than improvement, or improvement than population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/the-average-condition-of-the-people-improving-or-deteriorating/)

[John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/)

> [In comparative terms, there's no poverty in America by a long shot. Heritage Foundation political scientist Robert Rector has worked up figures showing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/in-comparative-terms-there-s-no-poverty-in-america-by-a-long-shot/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

> [The average well-being of our societies is not dependent any longer on national income and economic growth. ... But the differences between us and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-g-wilkinson/the-average-well-being-of-our-societies-is-not-dependent-any-longer/)

[Richard G. Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-g-wilkinson/)

> [I really focus more to hit for average, just try to put the ball in play as much as I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-soto/i-really-focus-more-to-hit-for-average-just-try-to-put-the-ball-in/)

[Juan Soto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-soto/)

> [You give me enough shots, I'll average 20. You give me a particular system where I stick close to the basket, I'll average 10 rebounds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-bosh/you-give-me-enough-shots-i-ll-average-20-you-give-me-a-particular/)

[Chris Bosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-bosh/)

> [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/)

[Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/)

> [The average American expends more time becoming informed about choosing a car than choosing a candidate. But, then, the consequences of the former choice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/the-average-american-expends-more-time-becoming-informed-about/)

[George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/)

> [My phone rings, they call me up and say, 'Chael, your testosterone level is too high.' I say, 'Well, how high was it?' They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chael-sonnen/my-phone-rings-they-call-me-up-and-say-chael-your-testosterone-level/)

[Chael Sonnen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chael-sonnen/)

> [In one century, we've added 28 years to our average life span - a change so rapid that our brains couldn't possibly have evolved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/in-one-century-we-ve-added-28-years-to-our-average-life-span-a-change/)

[Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/)

> [So-called Western Civilization, as practised in half of Europe, some of Asia and a few parts of North America, is better than anything else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/so-called-western-civilization-as-practised-in-half-of-europe-some-of/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

> [I feel like what motivates me is what would motivate the regular average person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rico-nasty/i-feel-like-what-motivates-me-is-what-would-motivate-the-regular/)

[Rico Nasty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rico-nasty/)

> [We're trying to do something so that when the average person uses Pinterest, it has to make the service better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-silbermann/we-re-trying-to-do-something-so-that-when-the-average-person-uses/)

[Ben Silbermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-silbermann/)

> [The extraordinary woman depends on the ordinary woman. It is only when we know what were the conditions of the average woman's life -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/the-extraordinary-woman-depends-on-the-ordinary-woman-it-is-only-when/)

[Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/)

Browse all 2,816 Average quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The Internet is just one of those things that contemporary humans can spend millions of 'practice' events at, that the average human a thousand years ago had absolutely no exposure to. Our brains are massively remodeled by this exposure-but so, too, by reading, by television, by video games, by modern electronics, by contemporary music, by contemporary 'tools,' etc.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Michael Merzenich"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-merzenich/the-internet-is-just-one-of-those-things-that-contemporary-humans-can/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Average"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-merzenich/the-internet-is-just-one-of-those-things-that-contemporary-humans-can/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e2/michael-merzenich-45455_average_the-internet-is-just-one-of-those-things_543822.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e2/michael-merzenich-45455_average_the-internet-is-just-one-of-those-things_543822.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e2/michael-merzenich-45455_average_the-internet-is-just-one-of-those-things_543822.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The Internet is just one of those things that contemporary humans can spend millions of 'practice' events…” — Michael Merzenich",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Michael Merzenich",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-merzenich/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The Internet is just one of...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-merzenich/the-internet-is-just-one-of-those-things-that-contemporary-humans-can/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-merzenich/the-internet-is-just-one-of-those-things-that-contemporary-humans-can/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
