Brain health consequences of digital technology use

Abstract

Emerging scientific evidence indicates that frequent digital technology use has a significant impact—both negative and positive—on brain function and behavior. Potential harmful effects of extensive screen time and technology use include heightened attention-deficit symptoms, impaired emotional and social intelligence, technology addiction, social isolation, impaired brain development, and disrupted sleep. However, various apps, videogames, and other online tools may benefit brain health. Functional imaging scans show that internet-naive older adults who learn to search online show significant increases in brain neural activity during simulated internet searches. Certain computer programs and videogames may improve memory, multitasking skills, fluid intelligence, and other cognitive abilities. Some apps and digital tools offer mental health interventions providing self-management, monitoring, skills training, and other interventions that may improve mood and behavior. Additional research on the positive and negative brain health effects of technology is needed to elucidate mechanisms and underlying causal relationships.

Virtual Reality for Neurorehabilitation and Cognitive Enhancement

“…The rapid development of digital technologies has transformed societies across the world [ 1 , 2 ]. Access to electronic devices and the internet exposes our minds to virtual computer-generated worlds, which greatly impact our daily lives [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]. If exposure to virtual realities is subordinate to achieving long-term personal goals, digital technologies are able to improve the overall well-being of healthy individuals [ 6 , 7 , 8 ].…”

Tablet Use Affects Preschoolers’ Executive Function: fNIRS Evidence from the Dimensional Change Card Sort Task

“…This finding is consistent with Horowitz-Kraus and Hutton [22], who found that increased screen time was associated with poorer executive functioning in very young children. In a systematic review, Small et al also found that frequent tablet use might negatively affect brain function and behavior [3]. All these findings have jointly confirmed that tablet use has adversely impacted young children's executive function.…”

“…They have also underscored the difficulties in finding studies directed to the desired age and type of electronic device, which is a potential cause of bias. Small et al conducted another systematic review and reported harmful effects such as heightened attention-deficit symptoms, impaired emotional and social intelligence, technology addiction, social isolation, impaired brain development, and disrupted sleep [3]. Meanwhile, they also found that various apps, videogames, and other online tools might benefit brain health in adulthood.…”

“…Since the early 2010s, tablet use has become increasingly prevalent in young children's daily life and has prompted substantial public concerns about its impact on children's brain development [17,18]. Most of the existing studies have reported survey and behavioral evidence [2,3], yet no neuroimaging evidence has been reported. This study was thus dedicated to filling this research gap by conducting the DCCS task with fNIRS to understand the impact of tablet use on EF.…”

“…This phenomenon has worried the public health organizations, parents, and scholars who are seriously concerned about the benefits and damages of tablet use in the early years (ages 0-5) [2]. So far, many studies have examined the impact of tablet use on young children's brain development, but the results are still mixed [3]. These inconclusive results have created difficulties in making policies for early ICT use and education and have caused heated debates between the advocates and dissenters of 'digital child' and tablet use [4].…”