In Singapore, the impact of gadgets on cognitive abilities was studied
02.02.2023
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Singapore scientists have identified a link between the use of gadgets in childhood and brain development.
Excessive use of gadgets in early childhood can lead to deterioration of cognitive abilities in later adulthood. This was reported on Tuesday by the Straits Times newspaper with reference to a study by Singaporean scientists.
"The study provided convincing supporting data to other studies already done that the time our children spend with gadgets should be carefully monitored, especially in the early stages of brain development," said Evelyn Low, one of the authors of the study, an employee of the National University of Singapore and the Singapore Institute of Clinical Medicine. In the study, which was conducted for several years, scientists observed 506 children.
They collected information from their parents about how much their children spend behind the screen of various gadgets on average per day. Then the subjects were divided into groups depending on the amount of time they spend behind the screen, and tests were carried out at the age of one year, one and a half years and nine years.
The more children spent time with gadgets in early childhood, the more significant deviations in brain activity and more cognitive impairments were revealed by scientists. In particular, the researchers found a relationship between the excessive use of gadgets and violations of the so-called executive functions of the brain, which are responsible for controlling impulses and emotions, performing multi-step instructions, concentrating attention and performing complex tasks.
Scientists suggest that gadgets negatively affect the development of the prefrontal cortex of the brain, which is responsible for performing executive functions. This part of the brain develops the longest, up to the university years of life, so it is at risk of external factors. "When a child looks at the screen, he falls asleep with a stream of highly dynamic changes, constant flashing of light sources and changing scenes, which requires considerable cognitive resources to process. The brain is overloaded and cannot allocate enough resources to master executive functions," the scientists said in a joint statement.
In addition to the National University of Singapore and the Singapore Institute of Clinical Medicine, employees of the National Institute of Education, Kay-Kay Women's and Children's Hospital, McGill University and Harvard Medical School participated in the study.
"The study provided convincing supporting data to other studies already done that the time our children spend with gadgets should be carefully monitored, especially in the early stages of brain development," said Evelyn Low, one of the authors of the study, an employee of the National University of Singapore and the Singapore Institute of Clinical Medicine. In the study, which was conducted for several years, scientists observed 506 children.
They collected information from their parents about how much their children spend behind the screen of various gadgets on average per day. Then the subjects were divided into groups depending on the amount of time they spend behind the screen, and tests were carried out at the age of one year, one and a half years and nine years.
The more children spent time with gadgets in early childhood, the more significant deviations in brain activity and more cognitive impairments were revealed by scientists. In particular, the researchers found a relationship between the excessive use of gadgets and violations of the so-called executive functions of the brain, which are responsible for controlling impulses and emotions, performing multi-step instructions, concentrating attention and performing complex tasks.
Scientists suggest that gadgets negatively affect the development of the prefrontal cortex of the brain, which is responsible for performing executive functions. This part of the brain develops the longest, up to the university years of life, so it is at risk of external factors. "When a child looks at the screen, he falls asleep with a stream of highly dynamic changes, constant flashing of light sources and changing scenes, which requires considerable cognitive resources to process. The brain is overloaded and cannot allocate enough resources to master executive functions," the scientists said in a joint statement.
In addition to the National University of Singapore and the Singapore Institute of Clinical Medicine, employees of the National Institute of Education, Kay-Kay Women's and Children's Hospital, McGill University and Harvard Medical School participated in the study.
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