Parents are warned to limit the screen time of children after an investigation has shown that this could lead to them having smaller brains and lower intelligence.
Scientists found that children watching television and used smartphones, tablets and computers, on average lower IQs and less intracranial volume (ICV) – a marker for brain size.
Children who entered their spare time, on the other hand, would be more intelligent and had a greater brain volume, according to the research.
The study used databases from all over Europe that contain information from thousands of children on IQ, screen use and physical exercise.
This was analyzed to determine whether there was a connection between leisure habits, intelligence and ICV – the total space in the skull that is used as a proxy for the maximum size of the brain.
Larger ICV is linked to superior intelligence.
The researchers, based in China, say that their results provide further evidence that excessive screen time has a lifelong impact on the brain development of children.
“These findings emphasize the crucial need to manage and regulate the media use of children and at the same time promote the increased physical activity,” they wrote in the Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience magazine.
Parents are warned to limit the screen time of children after an investigation has shown that this could cause them to have smaller brains and lower intelligence
Scientists found children who watched television and used smartphones, tablets and computers, on average had a lower IQs and less intracranial volume (ICV) – a marker for brain size
The study is because the screen use of children has been shaken in recent years.
The average number of time that British children from five to 15 years spend on screens rose from nine hours a week in 2009 to 15 hours a week in 2018, according to a report from the House of Commons Education Committee last year.
Although there can be advantages, including building friendships and improving learning, negative effects are online bullying, exposure to violence and pornography, lower levels of physical activity and eye interest.
Sir Cary Cooper, Professor Psychology at the University of Manchester, said: “Children use these devices and they do not learn social and non-verbal skills that we pick up from interaction, face-to-face, with other people.”
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