Excessive Internet use could impact certain areas of the brain responsible for attention or decision-making in adolescents.
- British scientists have been studying the effects of Internet addiction on the brains of adolescents.
- Internet addiction may disrupt areas of the brain involved in attention, decision-making and planning.
- These behaviors may become more difficult to perform over time, scientists say;
For many years, the scientific community has been warning about the consequences of intensive use of screens. Spending too much time in front of a computer or phone can increase stress, have an impact on mood or encourage withdrawal. In a recent study published in the journal PLOS Mental HealthBritish researchers have noticed that Internet addiction could hamper the proper functioning of certain regions of the brain in adolescents.
The impact of Internet addiction on attention and decision making
To reach this conclusion, scientists from University College London analyzed twelve neuroimaging studies involving adolescents suffering from Internet addiction.
They then found that signaling was disrupted in brain regions involved in multiple neural networks in addicted adolescents. This disruption was particularly visible during activities governed by the brain’s executive control network, which requires attention, planning, and decision-making, in young Internet addicts compared to other volunteers. “Such changes in signaling could mean that these behaviors may become more difficult to perform, which could potentially impact development and well-being,” noted the study leaders in a statement.
Future studies to better understand the impact of Internet addiction on the brain
These initial results should, however, be taken with a grain of salt. As the British team explained, “Current responses only paint an incomplete picture that does not necessarily portray Internet use as overwhelmingly positive or negative”. Further research is therefore needed to confirm the role of Internet addiction in altering the way the brain controls behavior.
