What happens inside a baby’s brain when looking at screens
A long-term study that tracks the impact of screen exposure on children
When parents and caregivers engage with their young children, their brains exhibit specific patterns of brainwaves that reflect active thinking, focus, and executive function. However, when parents turn their attention away from their babies to interact with mobile phones, the babies sense this change and respond accordingly. They become puzzled, seek reassurance from other sources, and eventually become agitated and cry.
This reaction to "technoference" – the intrusion of technology into caregiving moments – highlights the impact of screen exposure on the developing brains of infants. Researchers have found that infants with higher daily screen time exhibit more theta brainwaves (associated with passive states) and fewer beta waves (associated with active thinking) compared to those with minimal screen exposure.
As the children grow, the correlation between increased screen time and challenges in executive function abilities becomes evident. Attention, self-monitoring, and inhibitory control – crucial skills for adapting to changing tasks and managing impulses – are negatively affected by prolonged screen exposure. The research underscores the need to limit screen time for young children to support healthy brain development and optimal cognitive growth.
Written by urgent.news from Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
