Doom-Scrolling: Does the Usage of Screens Hijack the Central Executive Network?

Описание: Screen Time's Impact on Brain Development in Youth

Dr. Aram Nejad presents a comprehensive analysis of how screen time and social media usage can hijack the brain's salience network, leading to potential addiction and developmental issues in children. Drawing on neuroscience concepts like allostasis and interoception, Dr. Nejad explains how constant exposure to stimulating content disrupts the natural balance between the default mode network and central executive network, particularly in developing brains. The presentation highlights concerning statistics showing increased rates of ADHD and other neurodevelopmental disorders since the rise of screens, while also discussing potential solutions including limiting screen time for young children, encouraging mind-wandering exercises, and developing healthier content consumption habits. The discussion concludes with participants (Dr. Maya Khalil, Dr. Raj Shah, Dr. Javon Freeman, Dr. Raj Shah, and Dr. Orlando Acuna) sharing personal experiences and perspectives on managing screen usage, with particular attention to the challenges of balancing digital engagement with a healthy brain.

This presentation is a final project for the medical school elective, The Neuroscience of Brain-Body Connections & Creativity, taught by Dr. Sung Lee and clinical psychologist Dr. Jessica Del Pozo for The University of Arizona College of Medicine students in The Bioethics and Medical Humanism Department. Allostasis Talks are inspired by Dr. Peter Sterling who is also present at this talk and who coined the scientific term allostasis with Dr. Joseph Eyer in the 1980s.