fMRI Neuro Scans Reveal Gray Matter Disparities in Media Devices Multitaskers

By simultaneously using laptops, cell phones, and other media devices, people could be changing their brain structure. A study reveals that individuals who frequently use several media devices used concurrently have lower gray-matter density in one specific region of the brain compared to those who use just one device occasionally.

The study backs up earlier studies showing links between high media-multitasking activity and poor attention in the face of distractions, combined with emotional difficulties such as depression and anxiety.

However, neuroscientists Drs. Kep Kee Loh and Ryota Kanai emphasized that their study reveals a connection instead of causality and that a long-term study needs to be performed to determine whether high concurrent media usage leads to changes in the brain structure, or whether those with less-dense grey matter are more attracted to media multitasking.

The researchers, from the University of Sussex’s (Brighton, UK) Sackler Centre for Consciousness Science, employed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning to look at the brain structures of 75 adults, who had all filled in a questionnaire regarding their use and consumption of media devices, including mobile phones and computers, as well as television and print media.

The investigators discovered that, separate from individual personality characteristics, individuals who used a higher number of media devices concurrently also had smaller grey matter density in the part of the brain called the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), the region particularly responsible for cognitive and emotional control functions.

Dr. Loh stated, “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. Our study was the first to reveal links between media multitasking and brain structure.”

Scientists have earlier shown that brain structure can be changed upon protracted exposure to unique environments and experience. The neural pathways and synapses can change based on behaviors, environment, emotions, and can occur at the cellular level (in the case of learning and memory) or cortical re-mapping, which is how specific functions of an injured brain region could be re-mapped to a remaining intact region.

Other studies have shown that training (i.e., taxi drivers learning city maps, or learning to juggle,) can increase gray-matter densities in specific regions of the brain. “The exact mechanisms of these changes are still unclear,” said Dr. 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 study’s findings were published September 24, 2014, in the journal PLOS ONE.

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