People with excessive smartphone habits show distinct neural responses to social exclusion
A recent brain imaging study reveals that people with excessive smartphone habits process social exclusion differently than average users. Heightened brain activity in pain-processing regions suggests that heavy screen use is tied to a distinct sensitivity to social rejection.
A small study conducted by researchers at Heidelberg University in Germany examined brain activity in individuals with excessive smartphone use compared to those with average phone habits. The study, published in Computers in Human Behavior, aimed to understand how heavy smartphone reliance affects emotional and cognitive responses to social exclusion.
Researchers recruited 41 young adults aged 18 to 30 and divided them into two groups based on a standardized questionnaire assessing excessive smartphone use. The excessive use group, consisting of 23 participants, exhibited distinct neural responses to social exclusion, particularly in the right middle cingulate cortex and right superior frontal cortex.
These areas, involved in processing pain and complex cognitive functions, showed heightened activity when participants were socially excluded in a virtual game called Cyberball. In contrast, the control group displayed increased activity in the left superior parietal cortex, which is associated with working memory and sensory integration.
The excessive smartphone use group also reported higher levels of fear of missing out (FOMO) and functional impairment due to their phone habits, aligning with their brain scan data. The findings suggest that people with excessive smartphone use may have altered neural thresholds for social pain, potentially contributing to the development of compulsive smartphone use.
Written by urgent.news from PsyPost's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
