Smartphone Addiction
Creates Imbalance in Brain
CHICAGO, Nov. 30, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Researchers
have found an imbalance in the brain chemistry of young people addicted
to smartphones and the internet, according to a study presented today
the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
have found an imbalance in the brain chemistry of young people addicted
to smartphones and the internet, according to a study presented today
the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
According to a recent Pew Research Center study, 46 percent
of Americans say they could not live without their smartphones.
While this sentiment is clearly hyperbole, more and more people are
becoming increasingly
dependent on smartphones and other portable electronic devices for
news, information, games, and even the occasional phone call.
of Americans say they could not live without their smartphones.
While this sentiment is clearly hyperbole, more and more people are
becoming increasingly
dependent on smartphones and other portable electronic devices for
news, information, games, and even the occasional phone call.
Along with a growing concern that young people, in particular, may be
spending too much time staring into their phones instead of
interacting
with others, come questions as to the immediate effects on the
brain and the possible long-term consequences of such habits.
spending too much time staring into their phones instead of
interacting
with others, come questions as to the immediate effects on the
brain and the possible long-term consequences of such habits.
Hyung Suk Seo, M.D., professor of neuroradiology at
Korea Universityin Seoul, South Korea, and colleagues used
magnetic resonance
spectroscopy (MRS) to gain unique insight into the brains of
smartphone- and internet-addicted teenagers. MRS is a type of
MRI thatmeasures the brain's chemical composition.
Korea Universityin Seoul, South Korea, and colleagues used
magnetic resonance
spectroscopy (MRS) to gain unique insight into the brains of
smartphone- and internet-addicted teenagers. MRS is a type of
MRI thatmeasures the brain's chemical composition.
The study involved 19 young people (mean age 15.5, 9 males)
diagnosed with internet or smartphone addiction and 19 gender
- and age-matched healthy controls. Twelve of the addicted
yout received nine weeks of cognitive behavioral therapy, modified
from a cognitive therapy program for gaming addiction,
as part of the study.
diagnosed with internet or smartphone addiction and 19 gender
- and age-matched healthy controls. Twelve of the addicted
yout received nine weeks of cognitive behavioral therapy, modified
from a cognitive therapy program for gaming addiction,
as part of the study.
Researchers used standardized internet and smartphone addiction
tests to measure the severity of internet addiction. Questions
focused on the extent to which internet and smartphone use
affects daily routines, social life, productivity, sleeping patterns
and feelings.
tests to measure the severity of internet addiction. Questions
focused on the extent to which internet and smartphone use
affects daily routines, social life, productivity, sleeping patterns
and feelings.
"The higher the score, the more severe the addiction,"
Dr. Seo said.
Dr. Seo said.
Dr. Seo reported that the addicted teenagers had significantly
higher scores in depression, anxiety, insomnia severity and
impulsivity.
higher scores in depression, anxiety, insomnia severity and
impulsivity.
The researchers performed MRS exams on the addicted youth
prior to and following behavioral therapy and a single MRS
study on the control
patients to measure levels of gamma aminobutyric acid,
or GABA,
a neurotransmitter in the brain that inhibits or slows down brain
signals,and glutamate-glutamine (Glx), a neurotransmitter that
causes neurons to become more electrically excited.
Previous studies have found GABA
to be involved in vision and motor control and the
regulation of various brain functions, including anxiety.
prior to and following behavioral therapy and a single MRS
study on the control
patients to measure levels of gamma aminobutyric acid,
or GABA,
a neurotransmitter in the brain that inhibits or slows down brain
signals,and glutamate-glutamine (Glx), a neurotransmitter that
causes neurons to become more electrically excited.
Previous studies have found GABA
to be involved in vision and motor control and the
regulation of various brain functions, including anxiety.
The results of the MRS revealed that, compared to the healthy controls,
the ratio of GABA to Glx was significantly increased in the anterior
cingulate cortex of smartphone- and internet-addicted youth prior to
therapy.
the ratio of GABA to Glx was significantly increased in the anterior
cingulate cortex of smartphone- and internet-addicted youth prior to
therapy.
Dr. Seo said the ratios of GABA to creatine and GABA to glutamate
were significantly correlated to clinical scales of internet and smartphone
addictions, depression and anxiety.
were significantly correlated to clinical scales of internet and smartphone
addictions, depression and anxiety.
Having too much GABA can result in a number of side effects,
including drowsiness and anxiety.
including drowsiness and anxiety.
More study is needed to understand the clinical implications
of the
findings, but Dr. Seo believes that increased GABA in the anterior
cingulate gyrus in internet and smartphone addiction may be
related
to the functional loss of integration and regulation of processing in
the cognitive and emotional neural network.
of the
findings, but Dr. Seo believes that increased GABA in the anterior
cingulate gyrus in internet and smartphone addiction may be
related
to the functional loss of integration and regulation of processing in
the cognitive and emotional neural network.
The good news is GABA to Glx ratios in the addicted youth significantly
decreased or normalized after cognitive behavioral therapy.
decreased or normalized after cognitive behavioral therapy.
"The increased GABA levels and disrupted balance between GABA and
glutamate in the anterior cingulate cortex may contribute to our
understanding the pathophysiology of and treatment for addictions," Dr. Seo said.
glutamate in the anterior cingulate cortex may contribute to our
understanding the pathophysiology of and treatment for addictions," Dr. Seo said.
Co-authors are Eun-Kee Jeong, Ph.D., Sungwon Choi, Yunna Kwon,
Hae-Jeong Park, and InSeong Kim.
Hae-Jeong Park, and InSeong Kim.
Note: Copies of RSNA 2017 news releases and electronic images
will b
e available online at RSNA.org/press17 beginning Monday, Nov. 27.
will b
e available online at RSNA.org/press17 beginning Monday, Nov. 27.
RSNA is an association of over 54,000 radiologists, radiation
oncologists,
medical physicists and related scientists, promoting excellence
in
patient care and health care delivery through education,
research
and technologic innovation. The Society is based in Oak Brook, Ill.
(RSNA.org)
oncologists,
medical physicists and related scientists, promoting excellence
in
patient care and health care delivery through education,
research
and technologic innovation. The Society is based in Oak Brook, Ill.
(RSNA.org)
Editor's note: The data in these releases may differ from those
in the
published abstract and those actually presented at the meeting,
as researchers continue to update their data right up until the
meeting.
in the
published abstract and those actually presented at the meeting,
as researchers continue to update their data right up until the
meeting.
For patient-friendly information on MRS, or MR spectroscopy,
visit RadiologyInfo.org.
visit RadiologyInfo.org.
