“Brain Rot,” the 2024 Oxford word of the year captures the essence of our new podcast that is being created as a special series on the New Books Network (NBN). The full title is “Brain Rot: What Our Screens Are Doing to Our Minds.”

In this second podcast Dr. Karyne Messina, a psychologist, psychoanalyst, author and NBN host discusses the problems the emerge when children watch screens and digital devices too much. Dr. Messina talked about this topic with Dr. Harry Gill, a well-known psychiatrist who also has a PhD. in neuroscience. In this episode the focus was on Erik Eriksson’s 5th stage of development, Industry versus Inferiority. They discussed one of the greatest difficulties they see in their young patients who contend with way too much screen time. Dr. Gill talked about white matter in the brain where research has shown that children who spend more than the recommended amount of screen time exhibit lower levels of white matter development. In children exposed to excessive screen time, the white matter tracts supporting language, literacy, and cognitive skills show lower microstructural integrity. This means the white matter is less organized and structurally developed, potentially leading to slower and less efficient neural transmission. The impact on white matter development can have far-reaching consequences. White matter acts like cables, connecting various brain regions and is crucial for efficient brain functioning.

Dr. Gill also talked about synaptic pruning and the implications that excessive screen time can interfere with this process. He explained that synaptic pruning is the process by which the brain eliminates unnecessary or underused synaptic connections, optimizing neural networks and improving the efficiency of brain function. Screen time, especially when it displaces other important developmental activities, may interfere with the experiences necessary for proper pruning. Dr. Messina focused on the task that is essential to acquire during the 5th phase of Eriksson’s development stage which is competence. It go hand-in-hand with acquiring self-esteem. If these qualities are not developed in childhood, a person can be effected in negative ways throughout life.

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