How vulnerable are teenagers to internet addiction?
New research suggests internet addiction may rewire teenagers’ brains, making them more susceptible to other addictive behaviors. Scientists found altered signaling in brain areas related to attention and emotional understanding in youngsters addicted to being online. Patricia Wu and Jessica Reyes discuss these findings with Jojo Venant.
Disrupting brain networks
The study, published in PLOS Mental Health, indicates that internet addiction disrupts signaling in regions involved in multiple neural networks crucial for controlling attention, intellectual ability, working memory, physical coordination, and emotional processing. Researchers reviewed neuroimaging studies on internet-addicted adolescents and found disrupted connectivity between brain networks, particularly those governing attention, planning, decision-making, and impulsivity.
Is more research needed?
However, experts caution that more studies with diverse populations are needed to confirm the findings and understand the precise impact of internet addiction on brain function and well-being.
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