Video: How simple notifications harm the brain
2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55
In today's world, people are used to being constantly distracted by smartphone notifications. According to endocrinologist Robert Lustig, we are actually training the brain to be in a state of constant tension and fear due to anticipation.
So, according to research, 86 percent of Americans constantly check their mail and accounts in social networks, which causes them stress, writes Business Insider.
This, in turn, leads to the fact that the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for many important cognitive functions, becomes "upset" and practically ceases to function.
“In the end, you just start doing stupid things,” Lustig explained.
The problem lies in the fact that the brain of 97.5 percent of people at any given time is able to concentrate on only one task. This means that every time a new notification arrives on the smartphone, the person is forced to "switch". At the same time, the stress hormone cortisol is released, as well as dopamine, which causes a feeling of pleasure.
Thus, the stress we experience when trying to do multiple tasks at the same time worsens our condition and at the same time makes us want to be distracted again by the influence of dopamine.
Smartphones are certainly not evil, Lustig emphasized, but when they continually turn our attention back to themselves over and over again, it becomes a problem. In his opinion, this can be dealt with by pushing smartphone addiction beyond the boundaries of "socially acceptable behavior" - such as smoking indoors.
“I hope someday we will come to the point where you will not be able to constantly take out your phone in public,” he concluded.
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