Our phones have become an inextricable part of our lives.
But does this reliance on smartphones have any impact on our brains?
Some recent research indicates that it might.
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How this might affect development remains to be seen.
Unfortunately, some experts think this reliance might actually be taking a toll on our brains.
Remember, however, that such research is still in the early stages.
Researchers dubbed this effect the “brain drain hypothesis.”
A more recent meta-analysis also found that the presence of a smartphone was associated with decreases in working memory.
Consider turning it off and putting it in another room when you gotta get stuff done.
But this isn’t the only difference.
Some evidence indicates that we understand less of what we read online than what we do in print.
One 2020 study found that reading on an electronic rig such as a smartphone results in lower reading comprehension.
The experts suggest that hands-on activities and those involving direct human interaction are superior to interactive screen games.
The use of mobile devices becomes especially problematic when such devices replace hands-on activities that help develop visual-motor andsensorimotorskills.
There are still many unknowns about how the use of mobile devices influences child development.
After five consecutive nights, the two groups switched.
It also took these participants longer to fall asleep, and they experienced lessREM sleepthroughout the night.
The jot down of blue light emitted by most mobile devices.
The cells at the back of the eyes contain a light-sensitive protein that picks up specific wavelengths of light.
These light-sensitive cells then send signals to the brain’s “clock, " which regulates circadian rhythms.
Typically, blue light peaks in the morning, signaling your body to wake up for the day.
Red light increases in the evening, signaling it is time to wind down and go to bed.
These sleep interruptions can hurt your brain and mental health.
One study has found that there is a link between relying on a smartphone and mental laziness.
Researchers suggest that this can interfere with analytical and logical thinking.
Some even wonder if using our phones too much might contribute to decreased intelligence.
Clearly, much more research is needed.
So What Can You Do to Protect Your Brain?
What we can do is work on becoming more intentional about how we use and interact with our phones.
This means tracking and assessing how much you are using your phone.
What are you using it for?
What’s your average daily screen time?
Do you use your phone to soothedifficult emotionsor avoid important tasks?
Answering such questions can give you insight into problems you might want to address.
Consider Setting Limits
Setting specific limits on your phone use can be helpful.
For some people, this might involve removing certain apps from their phones.
Some people find that it is helpful to have phone-free times or even entire days.
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