BRAIN SCANS REVEALS GRAY MATTER DIFFERENCES IN MEDIA MULTITASKERS
Simultaneously using
mobile phones, laptops and other media devices could be changing the structure
of our brains, according to new University of Sussex research.
A study published
today (24 September) in PLOS ONE reveals that people who
frequently use several media devices at the same time have lower grey-matter
density in one particular region of the brain compared to those who use just
one device occasionally.
The research supports
earlier studies showing connections between high media-multitasking activity
and poor attention in the face of distractions, along with emotional problems
such as depression and anxiety.
But neuroscientists
Kep Kee Loh and Dr Ryota Kanai point out that their study reveals a link rather
than causality and that a long-term study needs to be carried out to understand
whether high concurrent media usage leads to changes in the brain structure, or
whether those with less-dense grey matter are more attracted to media
multitasking.
The researchers at the
University of Sussex's Sackler Centre for Consciousness Science used functional
magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to look at the brain structures of 75 adults,
who had all answered a questionnaire regarding their use and consumption of
media devices, including mobile phones and computers, as well as television and
print media.
They found that,
independent of individual personality traits, people who used a higher number
of media devices concurrently also had smaller grey matter density in the part
of the brain known as the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), the region notably
responsible for cognitive and emotional control functions.
Kep Kee Loh says:
"Media multitasking is becoming more prevalent in our lives today and
there is increasing concern about its impacts on our cognition and
social-emotional well-being. Our study was the first to reveal links between
media multitasking and brain structure."
Scientists have
previously demonstrated that brain structure can be altered upon prolonged
exposure to novel environments and experience. The neural pathways and synapses
can change based on our behaviours, environment, emotions, and can happen at
the cellular level (in the case of learning and memory) or cortical re-mapping,
which is how specific functions of a damaged brain region could be re-mapped to
a remaining intact region.
Other studies have
shown that training (such as learning to juggle, or taxi drivers learning the
map of London) can increase grey-matter densities in certain parts of the
brain.
"The exact
mechanisms of these changes are still unclear," says Kep Kee Loh.
"Although it is conceivable that individuals with small ACC are more
susceptible to multitasking situations due to weaker ability in cognitive
control or socio-emotional regulation, it is equally plausible that higher
levels of exposure to multitasking situations leads to structural changes in
the ACC. A longitudinal study is required to unambiguously determine the
direction of causation."
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