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"The study results are encouraging, that emerging computerised technologies may have physiological effects and potential benefits for middle-aged and older adults," said Dr Gary Small, a professor at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA.

"Internet searching engages complicated brain activity, which may help exercise and improve brain function."

Small said that activities that keep the mind engaged may help preserve brain health and cognitive ability, such as crossword puzzles. And with developments in technology, scientists are beginning to assess the influence the internet on brain capacity.

The team worked with two teams of 12 neurologically normal volunteers aged between 55 and 76 years old. Age, educational level and gender were similar between the groups, but one group already had

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experience searching the internet, while the other group claimed they had no experience.

The participants performed internet searches and book reading tasks while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans, which records subtle brain-circuitry changes experienced.

All study participants showed significant brain activity during the book-reading task, but internet searches revealed a major difference between the two groups.

While all participants demonstrated the same brain activity that was seen during the book-reading task, the group that had regularly been searching the internet in the past also registered activity in the areas of the brain which control decision-making and complex reasoning.

"Our most striking finding was that internet searching appears to engage a greater extent of neural circuitry that is not activated during reading - but only in those with prior internet experience," said Small.

According to the researchers, the internet's wealth of choices require that people make decisions about what to click on in order to pursue more information compared with simply reading. The activity that engages important cognitive circuits in the brain.

"A simple, everyday task like searching the Web appears to enhance brain circuitry in older adults, demonstrating that our brains are sensitive and can continue to learn as we grow older," Small concluded.