Google sharpens the mind?

The birth of personal computers may have tacked hours on to the time we spend sitting on our butts, but it seems searching the Internet can sharpen the mind, if not the waistline. Using search engines can stimulate "key brain regions", and might "ward off dementia and slow cognitive decline," according to National Geographic.

Though doing the crossword puzzle has a similar affect on the brain, Google-ing is less likely to bore given the Internet's expansive nature, researchers say. To discover Internet surfing spawns an increase in brain activity, researchers roped in 22 volunteers, ages 55 to 78. Participants surfed the Web for one hour every day. Half of the volunteers were Internet savvy, while the others claimed to be newbies.

After two weeks, scientists saw a jump in brain activity and a notable increase in those volunteers who initially used the Internet infrequently. So... maybe sitting in front of the computer isn't so unhealthy. Just be sure to get outside in the fresh air once in a while. To learn a bit more about the brain, give your own mind a workout with National Geographic's quiz.