A new study reveals how a short period away from the cellphone can affect the brain and it is truly shocking.
They are faithful companions, with us 24 hours a day, accessible, ready to deliver some news, pass along a message, reveal some gossip, and distract us from the world around us.
Thinking this way, we might even believe our cellphones are an inexhaustible source of benefits, but deep down we know that is far from true and scientists have discovered how a short time away from the phone can affect the brain and it is really shocking.
In a new study entitled “Effects of smartphone restriction on neural activity related to cues”, researchers found out what happens to the brain when we spend a few hours without the cellphone.
The research carried out by scientists from Heidelberg University and the University of Cologne in Germany revealed that just 72 hours of smartphone restriction changes activity in brain regions related to reward and self-control.
For the study, researchers used a group of 25 young adults, between 18 and 35 years old, who habitually used cellphones very frequently but did not have online gaming disorders or other significant mental health problems.
The research involved two MRI sessions over a 3-day interval. Before the first round of tests, participants answered a questionnaire to assess their smartphone usage habits, craving levels, and mood, and immediately after the exam, they had to considerably restrict the use of their phones.
After 72 hours, the group underwent the imaging exams again and the researchers found increased activity in brain regions known to be important in reward processing and frequently involved in craving and impulsive behaviors.
These changes in brain signals were compared to those of alcohol or nicotine addiction, suggesting that phones are addictive.
“Associations were found between changes in brain activation over time and neurotransmitter systems related to addiction,” the study says.
“The neural mechanisms identified may substantially promote addictive behavior in people at risk of excessive smartphone use.”
It has been less than 20 years since the first iPhone appeared, and more studies like this are needed to better understand how smartphones and social media can shape our brains. Until then, the good old advice for all of us: use in moderation.
This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
