Latest news with #TianjinNormalUniversity
NDTV
08-07-2025
- Health
- NDTV
TikTok, Instagram Reels, And Shorts May Be Rewiring Your Brain, Study Warns
A new brain imaging study has found that people addicted to short-form video platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts may be less sensitive to financial losses and more prone to impulsive decisions. Published in the journal NeuroImage, the research shows that such behavioural changes are linked to specific patterns of brain activity, particularly in regions responsible for evaluating rewards and guiding actions. The study draws parallels between short-form video addiction and other addictive behaviours like gambling and substance abuse. In both cases, individuals tend to prioritise immediate rewards over long-term consequences. The research warns that constant exposure to endless scrolling and personalised content on these platforms may alter brain function by encouraging instant gratification and repeated use. This may lead to a reduced ability to weigh risks and make sound decisions, especially when it comes to money. "Short-form video addiction is a global public health threat-with users in China spending 151 minutes daily on average, and 95.5% of internet users engaged. This high-intensity 'instant reward' consumption not only impairs attention, sleep, and mental health but also increases depression risk," said study author Qiang Wang, a professor of psychology at Tianjin Normal University. "While substance addictions (e.g., gambling, alcohol) consistently show reduced sensitivity to losses, how short-form video addiction alters the brain's evaluation of 'risk vs. loss' was virtually unexplored. Thus, we pioneered an integration of computational modeling (DDM) and neuroimaging (fMRI) to uncover: 1). Whether addicts undervalue long-term costs of usage (e.g., time loss, health risks); 2). How neural evidence accumulation speed and motor-sensory networks drive such decision biases." Specifically, the research team wanted to understand whether individuals who report more symptoms of short-form video addiction also show reduced "loss aversion"-a psychological tendency to give greater weight to losses than to equivalent gains. Loss aversion is generally considered a protective feature of decision-making, as it helps people avoid risky behavior. Previous studies have found that people with gambling disorder, alcohol dependence, and certain drug addictions show reduced loss aversion, but little was known about how this pattern might emerge in non-substance behavioral addictions, like compulsive short-video use.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Compumedics Achieves World-First Adult and Child Optimized Recordings from a Single MEG System
Compumedics has displayed significant magnetoencephalography (MEG) recordings optimized for pediatrics from the system successfully installed at Tianjin Normal University (TJNU) in China. This represents the industry's first such recordings made from an MEG system that is also suitable for adult measurements. MELBOURNE, Australia, May 15, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Compumedics Limited (ASX: CMP), a world leading supplier of innovative medical technology for patient monitoring, has in collaboration with Beijing Fistar and TJNU performed recordings of both adults and children. The site at TJNU is equipped with an Orion LifeSpan™ MEG. 'Most advanced MEG capability anywhere in the world' Professor Xuejun Bai is Vice President of TJNU, Head of the MEG Laboratory, Director of the Brain Functional Imaging Centre and former Director of the Chinese Psychological Society. He has published more than 300 scientific papers and has been awarded ten patents. Prof. Bai commented: "The Orion LifeSpan MEG recently installed by Compumedics at TJNU has been a revolution in our ability to study mental processes of both children and adults, or even the two simultaneously. The system has already proven itself to be extremely sensitive, accurate and reliable. My team have been hard at work doing MEG measurements, analyzing the resulting data and uncovering new neuroscientific findings. I can say without reservation that the Orion LifeSpan has given TJNU the most advanced MEG capability anywhere in the world." Ability to Accurately Scan Both Children and Adults MEG is a functional neuroimaging technique for mapping brain activity. It uses highly sensitive detectors to record the naturally occurring magnetic fields produced by electrical current flows within the brain. Because magnetic fields drop off very rapidly with distance, the sensors should be as close as possible to the sources of the brain signals. A child's small head in an adult size helmet results in sensors far from the brain, leading to small signals. A dedicated smaller helmet yields clearer and more accurate data. More precise data always leads to better research understanding and improved patient outcomes. World's First Recordings After installation of the Orion LifeSpan™ MEG at TJNU, a series of measurements were undertaken to demonstrate that the theoretical advantage of the system during pediatric recordings would be borne out in practice. Founder and Executive Chairman Dr David Burton commented: "These recordings represented the first time a single MEG system had delivered high-quality scans for both children and adults. This breakthrough was at the world's most advanced MEG lab at TJNU, which is equipped with a Compumedics Orion LifeSpan MEG system. "Compumedics has invested nearly a decade and many millions of dollars to develop the Orion LifeSpan MEG," he said. "The system represents a major leap in magnetoencephalography, with dual-helmet capability for pediatric and adult brain scanning, fully integrated with our gold-standard brain analytics CURRY software. "It's incredibly rewarding to see these efforts translating into strong initial sales, global interest and the potential for improved brain health, among both children and adults worldwide." A four-year-old female was presented with a series of tones and measured with both the adult and pediatric helmet. The results showed significantly stronger detection in the pediatric helmet. Localizations showed more precise determination of where the brain had been activated by the tones. The physics of magnetic field decay and the design philosophy of the Orion LifeSpan™ MEG were confirmed For more information about this study, the Orion LifeSpan™ MEG and Compumedics, visit: View source version on Contacts Dr. David Burton Executive Chairman, CEOdburton@ David Lawson Director, CFOdlawson@ Gordon Haid Global Neuro-Imaging Business Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
South China Morning Post
06-03-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
‘TikTok brain' from short-video addiction affects mood, learning and memory, study shows
Anyone who has taken offence after being accused of having 'TikTok brain' should stop reading now – if they have not already done so. Advertisement Research shows that their incessant flicking through video clips on social media comes with a price: 'cognitive deficits'. According to scientists at China's Tianjin Normal University and the University of California, Los Angeles in the United States, people with short-video addiction not only show 'compulsive and uncontrolled use of short-video platforms', they also appear to be developing a different brain morphology or structure compared to others. People with this addiction tend to 'excessively consume personalised content to the extent that it negatively interferes with other activities', the team said. People with TikTok brain excessively consume personalised content to the extent that it negatively interferes with other activities. Photo: Shutterstock After carrying out brain scans on 112 people aged between 17 and 30, the researchers said they found ' cognitive deficits ' in attention spans, learning and memory, as well as depression and anxiety
