New Brain Scan Photos Reveal Horrible Things That Happen When Teens Stare Too Much at Their Smartphones – Health

Parents want to provide their children with every possible tool to prepare them for the big world. But apart from teaching them valuable life lessons, many people also give their children a smartphone.

It’s become a rite of passage for young people as they reach adolescence – as well as a stinking attitude and a shitload of GCSE preparation to deal with, the majority of teenagers in the UK also get their hands on on a nice gadget.

But after learning about the effect these devices have on the brains of our next generation, you might think twice before giving a smartphone to a schoolchild.

Scientists have warned that teenagers are much more likely to become addicted to their cell phones because their brains are still developing at this age, and excessive use can completely reprogram them.

At this stage in their lives, their prefrontal cortex – which boffins say is essentially the brain’s “control system” – is still evolving, and it becomes overly dependent on the instant gratification young people get from browsing the networks. social.

During an episode of ITV This evening program, experts analyzed MRI scans that showed how a teenager’s brain responds to pleasurable experiences such as flicking through TikTok or Instagram.

Ciara McCabe, professor of neuroscience and mental health, explained that adults with fully developed brains know when “enough is enough,” whereas today’s young people are not programmed that way.

As a result, adolescents are more likely to engage in addictive behaviors as they become accustomed to receiving this regular stimulation by checking in with their online community.

Instead of experiencing the joys of real life, they look for a quick fix to that dopamine rush.

MRI scans revealed how adolescent brains respond differently to smartphone and social media use compared to adults (ITV)

“When you’re using something like a smartphone, if you’re using apps that are enjoyable or rewarding, that’s going to activate parts of the brain involved in reward,” McCabe said, according to the Mirror.

“When you’re an adult and you’re looking at a smartphone, your brain’s reward system is obviously activated, but your prefrontal cortex is also fully developed and it’s like a control system.

“There is evidence to suggest that adolescent brains respond differently, particularly to rewarding experiences, than adult brains.

“This is likely because parts of the prefrontal cortex have not yet fully developed in youth and adolescence.”

She explained that this puts teens at increased risk of becoming addicted to social media, as their brains become accustomed to the constant dose of dopamine they receive while online.

This scrambles their reward system, whereas we, who had a device-free childhood and now possess a fully developed prefrontal cortex, have one that doesn’t rely on the rush you get from scrolling on social media.

Professor McCabe explained that teenagers are at risk of becoming addicted to their devices due to their brain’s reaction (ITV)

Other studies have also found similar results, with research conducted in the United States in 2022 suggesting that the brain of a teenager who is constantly active on their smartphone develops differently.

Experts from the University of North Carolina previously explained that young people who check their online platforms up to 20 times a day become “hypersensitive” to social comments from their peers.

This habit was linked to later changes in how their brains responded to the world around them.

Study co-author and chief scientific officer of the American Psychological Association, Mitch Prinstein, explained: “Most adolescents begin using technology and social media at one of the most important periods for development brain of our lives.

“Our research demonstrates that checking behaviors on social media could have important, long-term consequences for adolescent neural development, which is critical for parents and policymakers to consider when understanding the benefits and potential harms associated with adolescent technology use.”

After all, maybe some things are best left to adults.