If you have a smartphone addiction, this new study could prove critical

Researchers at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) have published a new study showing that the brain’s chemistry is being altered in young people with smartphone addictions.

The relatively small sample group (38) used for the study comprised youngsters, half of whom had been diagnosed with smartphone addiction, and the other half being healthy age- and gender-matched controls for the experiment.

Using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), the researchers found elevated levels of GABA, a neurotransmitter in the brain that inhibits or slows down brain signals, in comparison to glutamate-glutamine (Glx), a neurotransmitter that causes neurons to become more electrically excited.

Elevated levels of GABA essentially have several side effects including anxiety and drowsiness.

Though they state that more study is required, the researchers believe that this change in brain chemistry in Internet and smartphone addicts could be linked to anomalies in the emotional and cognitive neural network.

The good news seems to be that GABA to Glx ratios appeared to reduce and even normalize after the affected patients were given cognitive behavioral therapy.

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