How Your Phone Is Changing Your Brain

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How your phone is changing your brain
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Technology is an amazing invention (I use it every day to run this blog!). We have practically everything we could ever need to know, imagine, and become curious about at our fingertips.

In fact, according to former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, we collectively create as much information in two days as has been created from the dawn of civilization until 2003. That’s pretty amazing!

However, there’s a saying that with great power comes great responsibility. We’re just beginning to understand that unlimited technology can have a downside. One serious concern is what technology can do to our brains.

Screen Addiction

Just as a person can become addicted to sugar, alcohol, drugs, or numerous other substances or behaviors, people can easily become addicted to technology.

The Reward Feedback Loop

Dopamine motivates us to seek out new information and pleasurable experiences. In nature this is an important function. Seeking food, water, shelter, companionship, and other necessities of life keeps us alive.

In fact, the anticipation of a reward is more motivating than the reward itself. A study found that destroying the dopamine in rats’ brains (the part that motivated them to seek) caused the rats to starve to death within inches of food.

Another part of this system is the pleasure-experiencing factor which happens in the opioid system. Dopamine motivates us to seek; the opioid system causes satisfaction (temporarily pausing the seeking).

This reward also encourages more seeking, and the cycle continues. We seek food, it tastes good, we are motivated to seek food again.

How Biology Short Circuits Into Addiction

What happens with technology (in particular, smartphones) is very dependent on this feedback loop. We seek information, we get it (and are satisfied temporarily), and then we are motivated to seek more information.

Unlike with food though, there is no physical feeling of being “full” from technology. If we’re full from a meal, we aren’t as motivated to seek food (though we will when we feel hungry again). With technology the satisfaction is less satisfying and the desire to seek becomes stronger.

One more thing to think about here: We also have to consider that food is important for survival while what we do online isn’t. So it’s good to some extent to be “addicted” to food (at least the right kind that creates a satisfied full feeling and improves health), but when we become addicted to the reward feedback loop of social media, emails, text messages, etc., that’s not beneficial to us.

How to Know If You’re Phone-Addicted

Of course, none of us like to think we’re addicted to our phones. We look at them because we think that that e-mail, text, or article is important. That is true some of the time, but there are some tell-tale signs of when we are in control of our phone use, and when it is in control of us.

According to Addiction.com, some symptoms of technology addiction to look for are:

  • compulsive checking of notifications and text messages
  • constant updating of social media accounts
  • a feeling of euphoria when using technology
  • disinterest in things that don’t include technology
  • social withdrawal
  • anxiety or restlessness when unable to use technology

I recognize several of these habits in myself. How about you?

Memory

The more we use technology in our lives the less information we store in our memories. Think about it — most of us haven’t memorized a phone number or found our way to a location without GPS in years.

Because of technology, we don’t have to store information in our brains but only have to remember where to find that information. A 2017 study on smartphones and cognition found that technology does indeed cause this “memory externalization” (but the researchers also caution that the Rolodex did too).

Maybe memory externalization isn’t always a bad thing, but when reliance on technology keeps us from learning and remembering from our environment and experiences, that could be a problem. For example, relying on GPS instead of learning how to navigate could have serious consequences when the GPS isn’t working.

Rapid Fire Information

Information overload also makes it difficult to form long-term memories. We have so much information going into our brains on a daily basis that we can’t keep up with it. (Moms live in this zone!)

Generally we can filter out the unimportant information and place the important information into our long-term memory for safe keeping. These long-term memories shape our thoughts (and our experiences in turn).

With information from our smartphones, laptops, etc. coming into our brains at rapid speed, it can’t decipher what’s important anymore. All of that information cycles into and out of the brain — none getting into long-term storage.

Add in distractions and it gets worse. Studies show that the brain works better to create long-term memories when we are actively paying attention to what we’re reading or learning, as this article explains.

In other words, if we’re multitasking or getting rapid-fire information (like in social media) our brains retain weak memories at best.

Concentration and Cognitive Function

It’s commonly thought that our attention spans are decreasing (perhaps shorter than that of a goldfish!). Whether attention spans are actually shrinking or not (it’s debated), it’s just much more difficult to concentrate on one thing when so many other things are calling for attention.

And it’s not just our use of technology that decreases our concentration. It’s the technology itself. One study found that the mere presence of a smartphone (even when it’s off) impairs cognitive function. Researchers at the University of Texas concluded that participants were distracted from their task because the brain was actively working to not pick up the smartphone.

It’s interesting and a little concerning all at once… as a mom I have enough distraction going on!

Anxiety

Smartphones and other technology don’t just affect how we think, but may cause mental health issues like anxiety. The compulsion to check notifications and updates itself is stressful. Also, fear of missing out if we don’t keep up with our phones may cause anxiety too.

This isn’t just in our heads. One revealing study from Korea University found that the ratio of GABA (an anti-anxiety amino acid) to creatine and glutamate correlated to depression and anxiety as well as the score of how addicted people were to the internet and their phones. Since GABA is an anti-anxiety amino acid, this is a problem. (Of course this doesn’t mean it is the direct cause, but interesting to note…)

Social Life

Scientific research surrounding how technology affects our brains is still fairly new but the few studies we do have are concerning. One study out of the University of Michigan found that social media use and narcissism are linked (though it’s unclear which came first). However, social media could be fueling the fire of narcissistic behavior.

Some experts believe that the ubiquitous use of screens in children prevents children as young as 5 years old from recognizing and reading others’ emotions. This may cause them to be less empathetic.

Additionally, though technology can make us feel like we’re more connected, we may be more alone than ever. A recent study found that of young people under thirty-five, a whopping 48 percent felt like they had just one person they could confide in. (In a similar study twenty-five years ago respondents said they had three confidants.)

This new loneliness is surprising considering young people are typically the most social group, but it make sense when you consider that socializing online is not the same as IRL (“in real life”).

Online we can groom our “brand” by choosing the best photos, status updates, and hashtags. In real life we have quirks, imperfections, and vulnerabilities that are often the real reason we connect with other people.

How to Find Balance

It can be overwhelming to hear all of the downfalls of technology, especially since so many of us are never far from it. We pretty much run our lives, take pictures of our kids, and get our daily information from smartphones. But really, it’s about balance.

Technology isn’t going anywhere anytime soon and I’m happy to have it in my life. But I also don’t want my phone to take me away from enjoying my family (they’re only small once after all!).

We can reap the benefits of technology while keeping the drawbacks to a minimum. According to this excellent article, just changing a few simple habits (and settings) can transform your relationship with your phone.

Try one of these positive digital habits and see if it makes a difference!

  • Take a digital day off – Based on the studies I’ve seen even just a few days away from technology can help improve brain power. When I first started this digital day off I was antsy and kept having the impulse to check my phone. Instead, I made a point of reading or playing with my kids. Now it’s something I look forward to each week. I also like that I’m showing my kids a better example of what it means to have uninterrupted family time.
  • Turn off notifications – Since our brains are hardwired to enjoy the anticipation of rewards, those notifications make it impossible to ignore them. Notifications from a smartphone can also interrupt thought processes and cause us to think about irrelevant things. Turning off notifications can make it easier to focus on other things (family, work, social events, etc.) without the interruption of texts and other updates.
  • Turn off screen color – If you’re willing to take a little bit more drastic of a step, consider switching your smartphone (or your child’s tablet) to grayscale. Researchers say that this helps reduce the reward loop of checking the phone. (I’m going to try this one!)
  • Work on an IRL social network – Schedule a “date” or a moms’ night out with a friend you haven’t seen in a while. Reach out to new friends too. And of course, make these interactions smartphone-free!
  • Go camping – When detoxing is too hard when you’re at home, consider going camping. Being out in nature to digitally detox and can be a great opportunity to be with friends and family. Leaving the digital devices at home (except one cell phone for emergencies) makes the detox easier — no devices, no temptation.
  • Be intentional – So much technology use is mindless. Make an effort to be intentional about it and you may notice a huge difference. Choose when you’ll use technology each day. For example, you may want to check email just once or twice a day as Tim Ferriss recommends, or you may want to put the screens down at 8 pm each night and read instead. You may also want to leave your phone downstairs at night so you have to get up before using it (better for less EMF radiation too).

Bottom Line: Unplug Your Brain

Smartphones can have lasting effects on our memories, concentration, cognitive function, and even our social lives. But they can also be an incredible tool for education and staying connected to family and friends. Too much of a good thing isn’t a good thing, so taking a break and setting up boundaries around how technology is used in the home can make a huge difference in whether it’s harmful or helpful.

This article was medically reviewed by Amy Shah, MD, Medical Advisor to Genexa through partnership with the Wellness Mama Team. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.

Have you noticed any negative effects of technology and smartphone use? What has been your experience?

Katie Wells Avatar

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

10 responses to “How Your Phone Is Changing Your Brain”

  1. Pat Avatar

    I know this is off topic but I don’t have an Instagram account, but wanted to comment somewhere. Your blog post on 8 May on “topic I’m pondering” -sorry I didn’t’ answer my phone……..” about cell phone use. My cell phone is for emergencies and occasional texts. I always take it when I’m out running errands or on vacation. When I am away from home at social events I put my phone on silent because I think it is rude to carry on a conversation during these events. I am where I want to be at that time in the company of those that I want to be with. If there is no emergency I will not answer just to have a casual conversation with someone else. I prefer face to face conversations and occasional phone calls. I don’t have an earbud and usually don’t have on pants with pockets. This makes talking on the phone inconvenient. I can’t get anything get anything done if I have my phone in my hand. Having an earbud would not benefit me because I would still have to hold my phone in my hand (I refuse to buy clothes just to carry my phone around all the time). I guess I have said enough, but, I still have other reasons why I do not use my phone. Thanks for letting me vent.

  2. Jessica Avatar
    Jessica

    This is awesome! Such a good read. I’ve always wondered what type of effects iPhones have on our brains. These tips on screen time are also beneficial thank you! I will try to incorporate some into my day to day life.

  3. Carolina Avatar
    Carolina

    Great article! As a mother taking a break from the craziness is sitting on the couch, and checking my phone. I have realized I am constantly checking my phone, emails, text, etc. I definitely plan to utilize many of these tips into my life. Thanks for the sources. Love to read all I can!

  4. Jenny Avatar

    We have our wifi on a timer to go off at 9 pm and on at 7 am so that we don’t sleep with the EMFs from wifi. This means that I read novels or nonfiction BOOKS at bedtime and when I wake up early. I turned off my phone notifications. I also found that getting rid of many EMF producing items in our house (smart meter, cordless landline phone, alarm system, microwave), and replacing LEDs with incandescents, using blue-blocking glasses – all this has made me more mindful of using computers and phone technology. I ground outside without sunscreen and use a grounding sheet at night. Results? Amazing! Great sleep, serenity, an overall feeling of excellent health. I also do saunas, work out, and practice intermittent fasting. The tech changes have been recent, an addition (or “subtraction”) and have made a huge difference in my life!

  5. Falynn Avatar

    I just switched my screen into grayscale…I LOVE IT! It’s like a newspaper… Hopefully it doesn’t make my neurotic checking worse. Haha. I also still have my twilight filter running to block blue light… But it doesn’t make a difference. Is blue light still an issue in grayscale?

  6. Jill Villalba Avatar
    Jill Villalba

    I know that technology is pretty cool and all but I actually wish we could go back to the 80’s or 90″s when life seemed simpler, more relaxed.! I miss those days. I hardly ever go on my FB anymore as it is too time consuming and gets old reading your friend’s posts and its just too much overload. We’re trying to take in all this information and its overwhelming. I had to get off social media so my brain would get somewhat of a break.

  7. Laura E Wasserman Avatar
    Laura E Wasserman

    I’m sitting here in Bogota Colombia. The first thing I did (after an amazing fruity cocktail) was go find a Sim card because I can’t handle not having Google maps and Google translate to get around. When I first traveled abroad I did without those things and I never had trouble

  8. Kathryn Avatar
    Kathryn

    I’ve absolutely noticed that my attention span has diminished with technology. I used to be able to read for hours (I also had more free time then) with no mind paid to what was going on around me. Now if I don’t put my phone in a different room, it’s a few pages, then check instagram, and repeat. I try to use technology on my side to quell this though – with social media blocking apps, or the forest app that builds a “tree” on your phone if you don’t look at it for a while.

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