What Happens To Your Brain When You Mindlessly Scroll?

Summary

This video explores the neurological effects of smartphone addiction, revealing how constant phone use alters brain pathways and triggers stress hormones like cortisol. It outlines the physical and mental impacts of quitting phone use, from initial anxiety to improved focus, relationships, and even potential cognitive benefits. The script also highlights the role of tech companies in exploiting our reward systems and suggests that reducing phone usage could lead to better sleep, reduced anxiety, and improved physical health, all while promoting the Fabulous app as a tool to combat phone addiction.

Takeaways

• 📱 The average American touches their phone 2,600 times a day, indicating a profound integration of phones in daily life.
• 🧠 Constant phone use alters the brain's neurology, affecting neural pathways related to reward anticipation and stress response.
• 🚫 After quitting phone use for one hour, the average person attempts to pick up their phone multiple times due to ingrained habits.
• 😰 Anxieties may arise after 12 hours without a phone, as the brain misses the constant dopamine release from social interactions and notifications.
• 📊 Tech companies exploit our brain's reward system to keep us engaged with their products, creating a cycle of dependency.
• 👥 After 24 hours without a phone, people may experience FOMO (fear of missing out), leading to increased heart rate and blood pressure.
• 👻 On day three without a phone, individuals may start to feel 'phantom vibrations,' a psychological effect of the brain adjusting to the absence of the device.
• 🤝 Quitting phone use can improve relationships as it reduces the snubbing of loved ones for the phone, enhancing communication quality.
• 📚 After quitting for five days, attention span may increase, and work or school performance could improve due to reduced task-switching and improved focus.
• 💤 Reducing cell phone use can lead to better sleep after one week, potentially due to reduced psychological arousal and screen light exposure.
• 🧘 Prolonged phone abstinence may decrease anxiety and depression, as well as physical discomfort such as neck and wrist pain.

Q & A

How often does the average American touch their phone per day?

The average American touches their phone 2,600 times per day.

What is the average number of times a person picks up their phone per day?

The average person picks up their phone 52 times per day.

What hormone is released when a person stops checking their phone after 12 hours?

Cortisol is released when a person stops checking their phone after 12 hours.

What are the three neural pathways in the brain that are changed by phone usage?

The script does not specify the exact names of the three neural pathways, but it mentions that they are activated when anticipating or experiencing a reward and are influenced by phone's notifications, messages, and social media updates.

What is the 'fomo' and how does it affect a person after quitting their phone for 24 hours?

Fomo stands for 'fear of missing out', and after quitting their phone for 24 hours, people may experience increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, and more anxiety due to fomo.

How do tech companies use our brain's reward system to keep us engaged with their products?

Tech companies have studied neuronal concepts to understand how rewards work in our brains. They use this knowledge to design features like notifications and social media updates that act as mini rewards, reinforcing the behavior of using their products.

What is the phenomenon known as 'fubbing'?

Fubbing is a term used to describe the act of snubbing loved ones for the sake of looking at one's phone.

What happens to a person's attention span after quitting their phone for five days?

After quitting their phone for five days, a person's attention span may increase, and they may start to perform better at work or school.

What is the 'switch cost effect' and how does it affect cognitive performance?

The switch cost effect occurs when the brain has to switch from one task to another, creating a cognitive cost that makes it harder to concentrate. This effect is more pronounced when a person frequently checks their phone, receiving text messages or notifications.

What are the potential physical health benefits of reducing smartphone use after two weeks?

After two weeks of reduced smartphone use, a person may experience reduced neck and wrist pain, decreased risk of carpal tunnel syndrome, and potentially improved grip strength.

How does the Fabulous app help with phone addiction and building better habits?

The Fabulous app uses science-backed daily routines to help users build better habits and achieve goals. It can guide users through various journeys, including mindfulness exercises and habit creation, and it can also be self-guided for personalized plans.