Digital Technology and Brain Development

Abstract

The effects of digital technology on early brain development have been hotly debated for a long time. The COVID-19 pandemic increased these worries to a greater scale as it led to an inevitable surge in the use of digital technology across age groups. The risks and benefits of screens or gadgets are often discussed at length on multiple platforms. Technology has become a part of everyday life for humans of all age groups. Exposure to screens often starts in the first few months of life. It therefore becomes imperative to study the various ways by which it may affect the development of the human brain. Emerging clinical studies show that it may have a positive as well as negative effects on multiple aspects of brain development. In spite of the available research, there is no conclusive evidence to link the effects of digital technology with developmental disorders. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current evidence and conceptual understanding in this area.