Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 18, 2025
07:00
Measuring the Switch Cost of Smartphone Use While Walking
Published on: April 30, 2020
1.9K
Structural and Functional Neural Correlates in Individuals with Excessive Smartphone Use: A Systematic Review and
Hsiu-Man Lin1, Yu-Tzu Chang2,3, Meng-Hsiang Chen4,5
1Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry & Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, China Medical University Children's Hospital, Taichung 404327, Taiwan.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
|December 11, 2022
Summary
Excessive smartphone use is linked to reduced brain volume, particularly in adolescents. This neuroimaging study highlights potential alterations in brain structure and function associated with heavy mobile device engagement.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
Background:
- The relationship between excessive smartphone use and brain structure/function remains incompletely understood.
- Previous research indicates internet addiction correlates with brain volume reduction and connectivity abnormalities.
- This study investigates the neurological impact of excessive smartphone usage.
Approach:
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.
- Searched PubMed, Embase, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Web of Science databases up to July 2022.
- Included studies utilized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to compare brain volumes and activations.
Key Points:
- Eleven eligible studies involving 421 participants for brain volume and 276 for activation were analyzed.
- Excessive smartphone users exhibited smaller brain volumes, especially in subcortical regions (g = −0.55, p < 0.001).
- Adolescents showed a more pronounced effect than adults, with impulsivity positively associated with volume reduction.
- Altered brain activations were observed in the cerebellum, lingual gyrus, and middle frontal gyrus.
Conclusions:
- Excessive smartphone use is potentially associated with reduced brain volume.
- Neuroimaging reveals altered brain activations in key regions linked to heavy smartphone use.
- Findings suggest a significant neurological impact of excessive smartphone engagement, particularly in younger populations.
