On Tuesday, a very astonishing fact was put forward by the researchers of the U.S. that the memories of the middle aged and older adults can be kept intact and sharp, if they regularly search the internet. 

To reach this conclusion, the researchers at University of California Los Angeles scrutinized people engaged in searching the Web, while at the same time their brain activity was recorded with the help of functional magnetic resonance imaging scans. 

In a telephonic interview, Dr. Gary Small, a UCLA expert on aging, reported, "What we saw was people who had Internet experience used more of their brain during the search."

This latest study by Small would be published in the American Journal of Geriatric. Small further informed, "This suggests that just searching on the Internet may train the brain -- which may keep it active and healthy."

Earlier too, it was found by lot of studies that brain activity and functionality can be kept intact if one regularly indulges in difficult mental activities like puzzles. However, the role of the internet was not looked at. 

Small added, "This is the first time anyone has simulated an Internet search task while scanning the brain."

To carry out the study, Small's team undertook 24 volunteers, aged from 55 to 76. Out of these, 12 had quite a good experience in web searching; while other 12 held no experience in the same. Other than this, all the volunteers had a similar age, gender and qualification background. 

Following this, both groups were engaged in tasks related of web searching and book reading while the activity of their brain was monitored. 

Small informed, "We found that in reading the book task, the visual cortex -- the part of the brain that controls reading and language -- was activated. In doing the Internet search task, there was much greater activity, but only in the Internet-savvy group."

Small confirmed that those people who are familiar with the Internet surfing were capable of engaging in deeper level of brain activity. 

Small further added, "There is something about Internet searching where we can gauge it to a level that we find challenging."

When a person ages, his cognitive brain activity is affected due to waste and decreased cell activity. But if one keeps his brain busy with mental activities; then he has a good chance to retain and preserve the healthy thinking abilities of his brain. 

And according to Small, Internet searches are included in one of these activities. Small said, "It tells us we probably can teach an old brain new Internet tricks."