Previously in the Sound Body and Mind series, we looked at how media affects children’s health. This post focuses on certain detrimental effects of staring at screens. (Which I am doing right now as I write this!)
At some point between the ages of 3 and 5, 97% of Americans have an insatiable desire to make weird, obnoxious faces for no apparent reason. True story. Our parent’s cure for this ailment: threaten us with the statement that is the title of this piece. At the time it was an effective method, as our parent’s word was Law. But why the heck am talking about this anyway?
While I admit it’s a loose analogy, when we stare at computer, TV, or cell phone screens, our brains actually do get stuck in a certain pose. The brain doesn’t stick its tongue out and go cross-eyed, but certain patterns of neuronal firing do change when we become screen zombies. This can affect vision, sleep, and how the brain processes all the data that it gets throughout the day.
First, let’s look at vision. Excessive screen use can cause what is referred to as computer vision syndrome, or CVS, and I promise I didn’t make this term up. While it usually goes unnoticed, using a computer is like a workout for your eyes; the eye muscles are constantly having to flex and relax to adjust to the changing images, light, and glare that emanate from a computer screen. This can cause eye strain, blurred vision, headaches, and neck or back pain.
Being constantly bombarded by screens can also interfere with how the brain learns and interprets the world around us. When we interact with our surroundings, our brains have to process this information. Studies in rats have shown that the brain requires “down time” to process new information. Without being allowed to rest and be devoid of stimuli, the rats weren’t able to form the neural connections necessary to make a permanent memory.
We can extrapolate and apply this to humans. Whenever you have to wait in line or get a moment alone, with nothing imminent at hand, what do you do? Whip out the phone, check email, text, play games, the list goes on. I’m as guilty as anyone. If we apply lessons from the rat brain to our own, it seems that this time may be better spent by doing nothing. Relax, take deep breath, stare mindlessly out the window. This may be just what the brain craves.
Lastly, studies have shown that screen time before bed may affect sleep. Just in case you aren’t sick of neuroscience already, here’s a little more. Melatonin is a hormone released in the brain during the evening and night, and it is important for regulating the sleep cycle. Exposure to light inhibits melatonin production. This makes sense evolutionarily, as you wouldn’t want to fall asleep while running away through the jungle at high noon to avoid a meeting with a friendly tiger. However, humans have recently evolved a strange trait; reflexively checking our phones and computers before bed. It turns out that phones, tablets, and computers emit a very potent light, which is capable of suppressing melatonin. Checking your email one last time may seem harmless, but it may in fact disrupt sleep.
In conclusion, all of you should turn off your lights, your TV, sit in the dark for two hours before bed, and check your cell phone only twice per day. Candles are allowable. All joking aside, the verdict seems to still be out on the extent that these occurrences affect our health. Most of the studies do seem to make sense though, and think we take some good practical advice from them:
- Try to cut off screen time about 30 minutes to an hour before bed
- Turn down the brightness on a tablet or computer screen at night
- Turn the iPhone off, and just take a little time each day to sit and relax (it may also help in other ways)
- When using the computer for long periods of time, take a break and look away every 20 minutes or so
Overall, if you use modern technologies in a responsible, moderate manner, I think the problems discussed in this post can be avoided. And I hope our brains don’t get stuck that way!
Images from: wikipedia.com, npr.org, and knowyourmeme.com