Smartphones and the brain.. What happens when you give it up for 72 hours?

A recent study conducted by the Universities of Heidelberg and Cologne in Germany revealed the significant effects of reducing the use of smartphones on brain activity.

The study included 25 young people between the ages of 18 and 30, who were asked to limit their smartphone use as much as possible for 72 hours, during which they were only allowed to make necessary calls and do work-related activities.

The researchers used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and psychological tests before and after the abstinence period to determine the effects on neural patterns.

The researchers explained in their study, published in the journal "Computers in Human Behavior," that they "adopted a time-sequential methodology to study the effects of limiting smartphone use on users."

They noted that they "observed clear relationships between changes in brain activity during the study period and neurotransmitter systems known to be associated with addictive behaviors."

During scans conducted after the 72-hour period, the researchers showed participants a variety of visual stimuli, including images of smartphones on or off, as well as more “neutral” images such as boats and flowers.

Changes were observed in parts of the brain associated with reward processing and cravings when viewing phone images, similar to brain signals associated with addiction to substances such as nicotine or alcohol.

The changes observed in the brain were linked to dopamine and serotonin systems, supporting the idea of phone addiction.

These two neurotransmitters are linked to multiple brain functions, including compulsive behavior and mood control.

However, psychological tests did not show significant changes in participants' mood or feelings of cravings, despite limited phone access.

Some volunteers reported improved mood, but this did not show up in the test data as statistically significant.

The study did not go into detail about why smartphone behaviors trigger changes in brain activity, but several factors are likely at play.

“Our data do not separate smartphone cravings from social interaction cravings, two processes that are closely interconnected today,” the researchers said.

Source: American Press