Cognitive processing differences between frequent and infrequent Internet users

The Internet is rapidly transforming a range of human activities; socio-cognitive theory assumes that engagement in transformed activities, over time, transforms human cognition. Four hundred and six college students completed four modified cognitive assessment system subtests, each assessing one dimension of the PASS model of cognitive processing (i.e., planning, attention, simultaneous and successive processing). Students also completed a rating scale that determined the extent and nature of their use of the Internet. Without exception, frequent Internet users cognitively outperformed infrequent Internet users. Results are interpreted as supporting the validity of two theoretical positions; tool use increases cognitive capacity and tools represent extension of cognitive processes.