Infants Who Spended Excessive Screen Time Experienced Slower Decision-Making and Increased Anxiety

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Study warns: Excessive screen time in infants affects brain development.

A new study in Singapore revealed that infants who spent a lot of time in front of screens before the age of two experienced changes in brain development, which later led to slower decision-making and increased anxiety during adolescence.

Children who were exposed to more screens during infancy also showed faster growth in brain regions responsible for visual processing and self-control. Researchers suggest this may be due to the strong sensory stimulation caused by screens, according to the German Press Agency (dpa).

168 children. The study, led by Assistant Professor Tan Ai Peng and her team from the A-Star Institute for Human Capacity Development, Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research, and the National University of Singapore, used long-term data in Singapore and was titled "Growing Up in Singapore: Towards Healthy Outcomes."

The study, published in the journal eBioMedicine, followed 168 children for over 10 years, conducting brain scans at ages 4.5, 6, and 7.5. This allowed researchers to see how brain networks developed over time, rather than relying on a single scan. Screen use at ages 3 and 4 did not show the same effects, suggesting that the first two years of life are particularly sensitive.

Infants who spent a lot of time in front of screens had slower decision-making and increased anxiety during adolescence.

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"Accelerated maturation"

The study's lead author, Dr. Huang Pai, explained that "accelerated maturation occurs when certain brain networks develop too quickly, often in response to difficulties or other stimuli." According to the researchers, these findings could help parents and the government develop early childhood policies and support Singapore's efforts to promote healthy development from a very young age.

He added that "during normal development, brain networks gradually become more specialized over time. However, in children who are exposed to screens a lot, the networks that control vision and perception develop more quickly, before they develop the functional connections necessary for complex thinking," adding that "this may limit flexibility and adaptability, making the child less able to adapt later in life."