Anyone who’s meditated for even a minute knows the mind is in a habitual state of anarchy. A random thought arises, shouts for attention, only to be elbowed aside by another and another in rapid succession. This most human of conditions has been called monkey mind.

Now imagine our minds as we bury ourselves in social media, the Internet, smartphones, laptops, game consoles and televisions — often at the same time! This experience repeated often enough is producing what one University of Washington researcher calls “popcorn brain” — described as “a brain so accustomed to the constant stimulation of electronic multitasking that we’re unfit for life offline, where things pop at a much slower pace.”

So here’s something anyone with a brand, story or message might want to ponder: What happens when the monkey mind meets the popcorn brain? (more…)