Internet Overuse Could Cause Brain Damage (Study)

Internet, being a very invention of humanity has become an inherent part of human life. Combined with different features, it allows users to stay connected and informed about everything. It allows people to communicate continuously without interruption of their movements or distances.

But according to the recent studies carried out in China, too much use of the internet can cause structural damage to a human brain. Seventeen adolescents were observed with an Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD) and were found structural and functional interference in the part of the brain that regulates the organization and causes cognitive impairment.

This happens because the Myelin insulates the white matter in the brain and makes the transmission speed between nerves signal fast. The white matter is composed of nerve cells and the grey matter is composed of cell bodies. The individual’s MRI scans were taken with the help of a method fractional anisotropy (FA). It measures organization in the brain by locating the white matter’s presence. Lower FA was shown in the teens that had the internet addiction. The teens were compared against 16 healthy control subjects.

According to the results, the disorder shows abnormal white grey integrity in the brain regions. This involved emotional generation and processing, execution attention, cognitive control, and the power of decision making.

But currently, the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) has not recognized internet addiction as a disorder. But it is regarded as a common arising issue among teens. Some people may not take this addiction as serious as addiction to gambling, drugs, or some other thing.

A poll has been issued from the American Journal of Psychiatry’s article about internet addiction. Four components are shown by all the variants

Excessive Use: This is often associated with loss of sense of time and the neglect of basic needs,

Withdrawal: This includes feelings of anger, tension, or depression on being unable to access computer.

Tolerance:  This is linked with the need for improved equipment, more software, and more usage time.

Negative repercussion: poor achievement, fatigue, social isolation, and lying are all part of this component.

Via: Mashable