Smartphones Are Rewiring Our Brains [New Research]

Key takeaways:

Smartphones can have cognitive effects, such as altering brain function and weakening circuits needed for in-person interaction and reading non-verbal cues.
Excessive smartphone use can reduce the size of the hippocampus, which is responsible for memory and learning, and lower gray matter volumes in specific regions of the brain, which can increase the risk of depression, schizophrenia, and dementia.
Heavy smartphone use can lead to addiction and withdrawal symptoms, and can harm cognitive health by preventing the brain's ability to transfer information into long-term storage.
The mere presence of a smartphone can lower one's ability to focus, remember, and solve problems, also known as "brain drain".
Smartphones can change our behavior and affect human biology, potentially causing stress and panic.

Effects of Smartphones on Memory and Cognitive Function #

Excessive smartphone use can reduce the size of the hippocampus, especially in young developing brains.
Chronic smartphone users have lower gray matter volumes in specific regions of the brain, including the anterior cingulate cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, fusiform gyrus, and parahippocampal regions.
Reduced gray matter can increase the risk of depression, schizophrenia, and dementia.
Regular exercise and trying to use one's memory instead of relying on their phone can help combat the effects of hippocampus shrinkage.

Heavy smartphone use can lead to addiction and withdrawal symptoms, similar to substance abuse.
Continual partial attention, such as checking one's phone while mid-conversation or scrolling on social media while watching TV, can harm cognitive health.
Trying to consistently multitask can hinder one's ability to think deeply and complexly, and can create a false sense of urgency which prevents the brain's ability to transfer information into long-term storage.

Smartphones can cause "brain drain" as the mere presence of a smartphone can lower one's ability to focus, remember, and solve problems.
Endocrinologist Robert Lustig warns that smartphone notifications can train our brains to be in a constant state of fear and stress.
Smartphones can cause our prefrontal cortex, the brain's decision-making hub and emotional control center, to go haywire and even shut down, leading to stress and panic.

Regular exercise and trying to use one's memory instead of relying on their phone can help combat the effects of hippocampus shrinkage.
Avoiding the overuse of social media can help mitigate the negative effects on cognitive health.
Stopping multitasking and choosing to read physical media instead of one's phone can increase comprehension and improve memory.
Limiting phone use for memory tasks where possible can improve memory.

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