Study: Giving up your phone for three days reshapes brain activity
A new study has shown that stopping using smartphones for 72 hours may affect brain activity. The study included 25 young people between the ages of 18 and 30, who were restricted from using phones except for essential communications.
The researchers used MRI scans to detect changes in brain activity, and found that interacting with smartphone images led to activation of areas of the brain associated with reward and addiction. These changes were also linked to dopamine and serotonin systems, supporting the idea that phones may be addictive.
However, psychological tests did not show significant changes in the participants' moods, but some reported an overall improvement. The study suggests that the effects of phones on the brain may be more complex than previously thought.
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