How three days without gadgets can change the brain's work
Researchers from the universities of Heidelberg and Cologne conducted an experiment in which volunteers gave up smartphones for 72 hours. Using MRI and psychological tests, the scientists found that images associated with phones activate the brain regions responsible for the reward system, similar to the mechanisms of nicotine or alcohol addiction. The psychological tests did not show significant changes in mood; some participants noted an improvement in their condition.
Researchers from the universities of Heidelberg and Cologne conducted an experiment in which volunteers gave up using smartphones for 72 hours. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and psychological tests were used to record changes in brain activity. During the scans, participants were shown images associated with smartphones, as well as neutral images. It turned out that pictures associated with phones activated the brain regions responsible for the reward system and craving. This reaction is similar to the mechanisms that arise in addiction to nicotine or alcohol. The experiment confirmed that smartphones are capable of forming an addiction, influencing the dopamine and serotonin systems. The psychological tests did not reveal significant changes in the mood of the subjects. Some participants noted an improvement in their emotional state, although scientific evidence for this trend has not yet been recorded. The researchers intend to continue their work to find out why smartphones have such an effect on the brain, and to study the connection between the desire to use a phone and the need for social interaction.