Consider the last time you kicked back on your couch and watched TV. Did you keep your laptop near by to Google one of the actors? Did you scroll through your Instagram feed during the slow scenes? A new study from the University of Sussex shows that this "media multitasking" is actually changing the structure of your brain—and not in a good way.
Researchers found that the subjects who used multiple screens at once actually have a smaller area of the brain called the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) than those who didn't multitask. The ACC is the crucial spot where information is processed, and it's also involved in your decision-making, emotions, and impulse control. That last one might not come as a great shock to anyone who has robotically reached for their phone at every single commercial break!
Smart phones (and search engines, and Wikipedia, and Google Maps) have definitely changed the way we process the world around us. But it's certainly freaky to imagine our brains are transforming along with every iOS update. This study is the first to make the connection that our gray matter may actually be changing due to technology, but plenty of others have shown how they might mess with our lives. They can affect your love life, your communication skills, and even your mood. So maybe it’s time to give your device (and your brain) a little vacation.
More from Women's Health:
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