Continuation

From where I left off yesterday....

Additionally, I had been reading and hearing MORE reports about the significant role that gizmo "smartphones" can have as "dopamine pumps" providing constant, unpredictable rewards that trigger dopamine release in the brain's reward circuit, specifically the nucleus accumbens.  These gizmo phones in many ways are akin to the lever pressing bars of traditional Skinner Boxes for rats.  

The nucleus accumbens is a key brain region acting as a reverberating circuit designed to facilitate motivation, primarily by regulating reward processing, reinforcement learning, and goal-directed behaviors. It processes pleasurable stimuli and is heavily implicated in addiction, motivation, and Pavlovian learning.

Now, do not get me wrong, dopamine is a critical, important neurochemical. Dopaminergic neurons all over the central nervous system are going to release and/or respond to dopamine, acting as a chemical messenger in the brain for movement, reward, motivation, and cognition as well as what I mentioned more specifically for just the nucleus accumbens.  

But, unfortunately, the "Skinner Box-like" qualities of the gizmo "smartphone" creates an addictive, compulsive loop associated with the nucleus accumbens where users can become habituated to frequently check devices for "hits," leading to reduced impulse control, and decreased overall baseline dopamine levels.  This in turn can lead to the development of increased anxiety or depression.

So, here is the rub..... I, without realizing, have over time (especially the last year to year and a half), become like a Skinner rat myself.  It was NOT intentional.  BUT, the U actually facilitated this happening to me.  Here is how:

Damnable MULTIFACTOR AUTHENTICATION is a huge factor in this transformation for me.  If you are not familiar with multifactor authentication (MFA), it is a gizmo system many places (including the U) have activated that REQUIRE you to have multiple "ways" to "prove" who you are to computers, electronic door locks, shared printers, classroom podiums, and a whole helluva lot more. This extends what you have to do to get into a system beyond typing in a password (although this is still step number 1).  The most common method of multifactor authentication at the U involves typing one OR more codes into an app on your gizmo phone.  These codes are relayed to you when you try to use one of the devices listed above, and you only have between 15 and 30 seconds to enter the damn code(s) or you get locked out for a period of time before you can try again.  In the classroom this can be debilitating if you MISS the Pavlovian “ding” of the MFA or are too slow in responding to its demands because you are then locked out of the podium’s projector system (to show slides) until the reset happens and you have to try again.  This has changed my behavior to CONSTANTLY having my damn gizmo phone at arms length at ALL times.  I used to not care where or when I had my phone, and mostly ignored the damn thing.  

Now that I am a "slave" of sorts to the multifactor authentication gods, this lead sneakily into my often thinking "Well, hell, since my phone is here, since it is open, I might as well look at some things." Additionally, now that I have my phone with me at every minute of the day, I hear every ding and beep it makes, further "guiding" me to pick it up to see what the hell just happened. 

And, I despise this impact of required gizmo phone attachment. 

Hell, I am NOT opposed to dopamine per se.  The nicotine in my beloved pipe tobaccos also stimulate SOME specific dopaminergic circuits.... but, beautiful pipe tobacco provides a more nuanced and beautiful impact than simply punching the nucleus accumbens.  Pipe tobacco is a wholly different beast.

So, I am developing/activating a plan of sorts,  But, I am out of time again, and have to run to a final exam.  More (probably) tomorrow.  

PipeTobacco