If you take a moment to observe your surroundings, you will likely notice individuals engrossed in their smartphones. But did you know that simply having your phone in the same room can impair your cognitive abilities? Research increasingly shows that smartphones can alter how our brains function.
The Advent of the Smartphone
When the iPhone launched in 2007, it introduced a fresh experience in mobile communication. A large, responsive touchscreen interface transformed user interaction with devices, making tasks such as web browsing, swiping, tapping, scrolling, zooming, and accessing the app store more efficient and intuitive. Before we realized it, many of us had immersed ourselves in a 2D virtual reality, a distinct world accessed through a screen. People have become attached to smartphones, not knowing there is a darker side to the experience, according to science.
Cognitive and Emotional Consequences
While much remains to be learned about the long-term cognitive impact of smartphones, scientific evidence should give us pause. If you have ever experienced a ‘phantom buzz’ or felt anxious when you haven’t checked your phone in a while, it’s clear that something peculiar is happening. But what exactly are smartphones doing to our minds and personalities?
Memory and Cognitive Skills
In the past, memorizing phone numbers or paying attention in math class was a necessity due to teachers’ restrictions on calculators. Cab drivers navigated streets without GPS, strengthening their mental muscles and physically enlarging their hippocampus, the brain’s memory center, which aids learning and emotional processing.
Today, we heavily rely on our devices as memory aids. Recent research suggests that this over-reliance on smartphones may have negative consequences. A 2021 study revealed that excessive smartphone use can shrink the hippocampus, especially in young, developing brains. Other studies have shown that chronic smartphone users have lower grey matter volumes in specific brain regions, potentially increasing the risk of depression, schizophrenia, and dementia.
Exercise and Cognitive Health
Research shows that regular exercise can improve memory skills and counteract the effects of hippocampus shrinkage. Physical activity can increase grey matter and enhance retention, while actively challenging memory skills can improve cognitive function and mental acuity.
The Myth of Multitasking
In her book How to Break Up with Your Phone, Katherine Price cautions against the myth of multitasking, revealing that only 2.5 percent of individuals can effectively multitask. She highlights the perils of constant partial attention, such as glancing at your phone during a discussion or browsing social media while watching television. Multitasking can impair cognitive health, inhibit profound thinking, and foster a misguided sense of urgency, ultimately impeding the brain’s capacity to encode information into long-term memory.
Rising Screen Time and its Effects
Research shows that between 2019 and 2023, average mobile screen time increased by 23 percent, from two hours and 56 minutes to three hours and 46 minutes. The average user now checks their phone 96 times per day. Studies published in the peer-reviewed medical journal Psychiatry Research Neuroimaging confirm that excessive smartphone use can resemble addiction, weakening vital brain networks that control functions such as attention and impulse control.
Screen Reading and Comprehension
A study in 2022 found that reading from a screen reduces comprehension, even if the text is the same as on paper. Excessive screen reading and constant smartphone use can impair understanding, focus, problem-solving, and critical thinking.
Setting Boundaries
Individuals need to set boundaries with their smartphones and prioritize self-care to prevent the negative effects of technology overload. By being mindful of our smartphone usage, we can protect our cognitive abilities and maintain a healthy relationship with technology.
