By Nowadays, it would be impossible for you to live without your mobile phone. But… Do you know what effect these devices have on your neurological universe? Not everything is negative. We explain it to you in the following reading.
It is often said that the not-so-new technologies are replacing our minds. In a way, the phone has changed our brains in many ways. It can alter cognition and significantly reduce the ability to concentrate. What’s more, some people find their spatial orientation skills diminished. Can you guess why?
By relying on the GPS of the mobile phone, people stop making an effort to find a location, no matter how simple it may be. However, it should be noted that not everything is disadvantageous. After all, the proper use of electronic devices is what will always allow you to maximize their benefits and reduce their risks. We give you all the details below.
“Technology is a useful servant but a dangerous master.”
~ Christian Lous Lange ~
How has the phone changed our brain?
It is estimated that there are now more phones than people in the world. Given the prevalence of cell phone use, it is obvious that mental health professionals are wondering about their effects. Cell phones are an extension of your body and are the resources you rely on to remember things, learn, and socialize.
Neuroscience has been studying for years how the phone has changed our brain. One aspect that they often highlight is the way it hijacks the attention of adults, children and adolescents. Sometimes, when you access it to make a quick query, you fall into the digital rabbit hole and, there, time slips away from you. Let’s now learn about the less pleasant consequences of its use.
1. Digital amnesia
The journal Trends in Cognitive Sciences published a study that talked about a very striking concept: “ cognitive offloading .” This is what you do when you rely on your phone to remind you of something, such as an appointment. So what science is saying is that with the advent of new technologies, we rely a little less on our memory abilities.
After all, why bother trying to remember certain facts if your phone already does it for you? Digital amnesia is the process in which you stop investing cognitive effort into taking in new information. You do this because you trust your device to act almost like your second brain, reminding you of dates, concepts, events, etc.
2. Reduces cognitive skills
How many times a day do you check your phone? If you kept track, you’d be shocked. The Journal of the Association for Consumer Research warns of something similar . It has been observed that the mere proximity of the phone reduces people’s cognitive resources. In other words, it retains your attention and ability to concentrate.
The more dependent we become on these technological allies, the more limitations we become, even when it comes to making decisions. The brain loses focus, abandons the thread of sustained thought and ends up entering the limitless haze of the digital universe. Little by little, the mind stops exercising such basic processes as critical reasoning.
The use of mobile devices has brought about a change in attention span. Many people have difficulty concentrating on a task for long periods of time, due to the constant distraction of notifications or social media use.
3. Poorer social interaction skills
While mobile phones allow you to connect with people all over the world, they have also transformed the way you communicate . Today, digital interaction and non-face-to-face conversations are more important. Text and voice messages flow by the second, creating a different way of relating to each other.
The brain is a social organ designed to build bonds. Face-to-face closeness is needed to heighten emotional connection and empathy. Yet, more and more teenagers are suffering from poor social-emotional skills. What’s more, we often see devices becoming the go-to method for calming and distracting young children.
An article in the journal Pediatrics questions the effect of this and asks whether early use of mobile phones or tablets affects the internal mechanisms of brain self-regulation. At the moment there is no conclusive data, but the risk is there.
4. Sleep disturbances
The phone has changed our brains, and one of the triggers is nighttime rest. Exposure to blue light from device screens interferes with sleep quality. A paper published in the Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences goes a little further and details the consequences of this mechanism:
- It disrupts the circadian rhythm.
- Increases alertness.
- Suppresses melatonin hormone levels.
- Delays falling asleep due to blue light.
- Poor rest becomes chronic due to biological effects.
- Poor sleep has an impact on physical and psychological health.
What are the benefits of using the telephone?
It is true that dependence on these technological resources can undermine brain health and efficiency. No one denies this, but not everything is limitations or problematic situations. Mobile phones, like other electronic devices, revolutionized our lives. The digital era also brought countless benefits and it is important to highlight them:
- Entertainment: music, videos, e-books, games, online TV series and movie platforms … The phone entertains , relieves stress and awakens positive emotions in us.
- Learning: The phone has changed our brains, and sometimes in a very positive way. The way we learn is different, we have more learning tools, online resources and a wealth of educational content.
- Productivity: Mobile phones are useful tools for work and study. You can access any information quickly, check emails, hold video conferences and consult important documents anywhere.
- Access to information: These resources provide immediate access to a wealth of online data. You can look up answers to questions, check news at any time, find directions, and learn about a wide variety of topics in seconds.
- Social connection : Fast and efficient communication through calls, texts , emails, messaging apps, and social media is a definite plus. We saw this during the pandemic. Connecting with friends and family was, and is, always satisfying. It also helps meet new people and even fall in love.
The importance of making good use of your devices
Mobile phones are tools with undeniable potential that we must know how to use. And we should learn this from childhood. Excessive use and dependence on them impoverishes your cognitive resources and alters your emotions. One piece of advice we can give you is not to use your mobile phone for tasks that the brain is capable of performing perfectly.
Don’t see it as that expert friend who thinks for you and absorbs all your attention for hours. Use it to develop your knowledge and productivity. Combine digital life with analogue life, dare to leave it in a drawer at night and even for an entire weekend. Technology should be your ally, not a resource that limits your neurological functions.