Study finds reduced brain function for kids after screen time

Technology is plugged as a learning tool for kids, but a US study has found just two hours of daily screen time can change a child’s brain structure.

Kids are dangerously addicted to technology, with US scientists now claiming smartphones and tablets are damaging early brain development.

An ongoing study, conducted by the National Institute of Health, will follow the development of children and their relationship to technology, over the course of several years.

So far, scientists have concluded that kids who spend seven hours or more a day on smartphones or tablets are prematurely thinning their brain cortex.

The $400 million research, called Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD), has already studied the brain activity of 4500 children to understand the impact of technology on youngsters.

An image of a brain while a child performs a working memory task. The regions in yellow and red are most active. Picture: ABCD

The research found that as little as two hours of screen time each day is physically changing the structure of kids’ brains.

The effects of this are seen in reduced memory and perception skills, cognitive abilities and IQ scores.

More than 11,800 children, currently aged between nine and 10, will be studied over the next decade as they grow into early adulthood to understand impacts on emotional development and mental health.

The study is also examining 2100 young people who are twins or triplets.

A study participant prepares for his MRI scan. Picture: University of South Carolina

Researchers estimate that by early next year, they will have access to baseline results from the research.

One of the study’s lead authors, Dr Gaya Dowling, told CBS that more work was needed to understand the preliminary findings from the first 4500 participants.

“We don’t know if it’s being caused by the screen time. We don’t know yet if it’s a bad thing,” Dr Dowling said.

“What we can say is that this is what the brains look like of kids who spend a lot of time on screens. And it’s not just one pattern.”