Higher Screen Time has a physical and functional impact on children’s brains claims Researchers

The screen time has already remained a matter of concern for the parents and elders. Afterall, it leads to the issues, which include the physical and functional changes found in the brains especially of the children under 12 years or so. It has been impacting their development, scientists  claim the research as it was found after reviewing around 33 brain imaging studies for the age spanning to 23 years and it involved around 30,000 participants.

The excessive screen time often deals with spending and watching videos, playing computer games and even TV shows as well. It has had a very bad or detrimental impact on the development of executive functions in the brain, which include working memory, planning, and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. This can help in adding impact stems from structural changes in the prefrontal cortex, a key region of the brain responsible for these executive functions.

Also, the researchers discovered that screen time, which could put an impact on the ability of the children, further processes sensory information like touch, pressure, cold, heat, and pain. This impairment is featured in several alterations in the parietal lobes, another crucial area of the brain involved in sensory processing.

The study was carried out by a bunch of scientists hailing from Hong Kong, China, and Australia, which aimed to elucidate the effects of digital engagement on brain plasticity during critical stages of child development. Brain plasticity, called neuroplasticity, refers to the brain’s remarkable ability to modify and reorganise its neural networks, enabling the acquisition of new skills and functions. While visual development is generally considered to occur before the age of eight, language acquisition is thought to continue up to the age of twelve.