How the Web Became Our ‘External Brain,’ and What It Means for Our Kids 12 years ago
It's definitely a hypothesis I'd like to see tested, because I do belive the increasing shallowness and leaning on technology as a crutch is a real phenomenon in Western society.
A good test might be how people fare when stripped of their technology and conveniences, for some definitions of faring and technology. Testing this ethically might be tough, though.