A study carried out by a team of researchers from the University of Sussex (United Kingdom) and published in the journal Plos One , has concluded that people who often use several electronic devices at the same time (computers, tablets, mobiles, laptops …) have a lower density of gray matter in a specific part of the brain compared to those who do it very occasionally.
Although previous studies had already linked poor attention to the use of multitasking devices, this is the first time they have found a real link between the two . The scientists wanted to find out if there was some kind of change or alteration in the brain with a prolonged exposure of several electronic devices at the same time by the user.
To do this, the researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine the brain structures of 75 adults who had previously answered a questionnaire on the use and consumption of all types of electronic devices, including television, tablets, smartphones or computers.
The experts found that regardless of personality traits, people who used a greater number of devices at the same time also had lower gray matter density in the part of the brain known as the anterior cingulate cortex, the area responsible for control functions. cognitive and emotional .
“Multitasking media is becoming more and more prevalent in our lives today and there is growing concern about its impact on our cognition and emotional and social well-being. Our study is the first to reveal the links between multitasking media and brain structure, ”says study co-author Kepkee Loh.
