Put Down That Phone! Media Multitasking May be Changing the Structure of Your Brain

We may just be changing our brains by multitasking with electronic devices. Scientists have found that simultaneously using mobile phones, laptops and other media devices could actually be altering the structure of our brains.

"Media multitasking is becoming more prevalent in our lives today and there is increasing concern about its impacts on our cognition and social-emotional well-being," said Kep Kee Loh, one of the researchers, in a news release. "Our study was the first to reveal links between media multitasking and brain structure."

Earlier studies have shown that there are connections between high media-multitasking activity and poor attention in the face of distractions. Studies have also found links with emotional problems, such as depression and anxiety. That's why scientists decided to take a closer look at how media multitasking might be affecting individuals.

The scientists used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in order to look at the brain structures of 75 adults. The volunteers had all answered a questionnaire regarding their use and consumption of media devices, including mobile phones and computers, as well as television and print media.

In the end, the researchers found that, independent of individual personality traits, people who used a higher number of media devices had smaller grey matter density in the part of the brain known as the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). This region of the brain is responsible for cognitive and emotional control functions.

"The exact mechanisms of these changes are still unclear," said Kep Kee Loh. "Although it is conceivable that individuals with small ACC are more susceptible to multitasking situations due to weaker ability in cognitive control or socio-emotional regulation, it is equally plausible that higher levels of exposure to multitasking situations lead to structural changes in the ACC. A longitudinal study is required to unambiguously determine the direction of causation."

The findings are published in the journal PLOS One.