Impact of abusive screen use on childhood neurodevelopment
Main Article Content
Abstract
The use of technology has been widely studied as an influential factor in children's learning and development; however, the neurodevelopment of early childhood goes through critical periods that are very sensitive to technological overexposure. The literature reviewed links their early and abusive use with difficulties and negative consequences on executive functioning, as well as on cognitive, linguistic, and socio-emotional areas. Consequently, a systematic review of 14 articles is presented, prepared under the PRISMA guidelines, to understand the impact of the abusive use of screens on neurotypical neurodevelopment between 0 and 12 years, especially on executive functioning. The results find significant relationships between exposure to screens and lower executive performance from 14 months to 9 years of age, especially on inhibitory control. There is a negative impact immediately, in the short and long term. Likewise, other exposure variables that affect executive performance have been identified. More experimental studies are needed to support the causality and directionality of the findings, as well as quantitative instruments that allow real-time exposure to screens to be measured more objectively.
Keywords:
screens, impact, neurodevelopment, executive functioning, children
Article Details
How to Cite
CUCALON-BENITO, Nerea; PEREZ-PALAO, Lucia; FERNANDEZ-VALERO, Rosa.
Impact of abusive screen use on childhood neurodevelopment.
Medical Research Archives, [S.l.], v. 11, n. 11, nov. 2023.
ISSN 2375-1924.
Available at: <https://esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/view/4730>. Date accessed: 21 nov. 2024.
doi: https://doi.org/10.18103/mra.v11i11.4730.
Section
Review Articles
The Medical Research Archives grants authors the right to publish and reproduce the unrevised contribution in whole or in part at any time and in any form for any scholarly non-commercial purpose with the condition that all publications of the contribution include a full citation to the journal as published by the Medical Research Archives.
References
1. Hsin CT, Li MC, Tsai CC. The influence of young children's use of technology on the learning: a review. J Educat Technol Society. 2014;17 (4): 85-99. Retrieved on 04/10/2023 from: http://www.jstor.org/stable/jeductechsoci.17.4.85
2. Rebollo Muñoz MP. Does screen time in front of electronic devices influence child development? [Final Degree Project, University of the Balearic Islands]. Institutional Repository – University Balearic Islands. 2020. http://hdl.han¬dle.net/11201/153082
3. Santos-Caamaño FJ, Vázquez-Cancelo MJ, Rodríguez-Machado ER. Digital technologies and learning ecologies: Challenges and oppor-tunities. Educat S. XXI. 2021;39 (2): 19-40. https://doi.org/10.6018/educatio.466091
4. American Academy of Pediatrics. Beyond Screen Time: A parent's guide to media use. Pediatr Patient Educat. 2021. Retrieved on 04/10/2023 from https://doi.org/10.1542/peo_document099
5. American Academy of Pediatrics. Media and young minds. Pediatrics.2016; 138 (5): e20162591. Retrieved on 04/10/2023 from https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-2591
6. Huber B, Yeates M, Meyer D, Fleckhammer L, Kaufman J. The effects of screen media content on young children's executive functioning. J Ex-periment Child Psych. 2018; 170: 72-85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2018.01.006
7. Suárez Tipán JB. Theoretical analysis of the negative impact on neurodevelopment due to the use of technological devices in early childhood. [Final Degree Project, Central University of Ecuador]. Institutional Repository – Central University Ecuador. 2022. http://www.dspace.uce.edu.ec/handle/25000/27157
8. Hutton JS, Dudley J, Horowitz-Kraus T, Dewit T, Holland SK. Associations between screen-based media use and brain white matter integrity in preschool-aged children. JAMA Pediatr 2020; 174 (1): 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1001(hamapediatrics.2019.3869
9. Frejerman N, Grañana N (Comps). Child neuro-psychology. Paidós. 2017.Argentina.
10. Anderson V. Assessing executive functions in children: biological, psychological, and devel-opmental considerations. Pediatr Rehabilit. 2001; 4 (3): 119-136. doi:10.1080/13638490110091347
11. Wu JB, Yin XN, Qiu SY, Wen GM, Yang WK, Zhang JY, Zhao YF, Wang X. Association between screen time and hyperactive behaviors in children under 3 years in China. Frontiers psychiatry. 2022; 13: 977879. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.977879
12. Jourdren M., Bucaille A., Ropars J. The impact of screen exposure on attention abilities in young children: a systematic review. Pediatr neurology. 2023; 142: 76-88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2023.01.005
13. Arora A, Arora A. Effects of smart voice control devices on children: current challenges and future perspectives. Archives Disease Childhood. 2022; 107 (12): 1129-1130. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2022-323888
14. Cui J, Li L, Dong C. (2022). The associations between specific-type sedentary behaviors and cognitive flexibility in adolescents. Frontiers human neurosci. 2022; 16: 910624. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.910624
15. Manwell LA, Merelle TM, Ciccarelli RE. Digital dementia in the internet generation: excessive screen time during brain development will increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias in adulthood. J Integrative Neurosci. 2022; 21 (1): 28.https://doi.org/10.31083/j.jin2101028
16. Abellán L. Relationship between language development and executive functions in subjects from 0 to 6 years old. A systematic review. IJ New Education. 2022; 10: 106-126. https://doi.org/10.24310/IJNE.10.2022.15730
17. Daneri MP, Blair C, Kuhn LJ, Vernon-Feagans L, Greenberg M, Cox M, Burchinal P, Willoughby M, Garrett-Peters P, Mills-Koonce R, Investigators TFLPK. Maternal Language and Child Vocabulary Mediate Relations Between Socioeconomic Status and Executive Function During Early Childhood. Child Developm. 2019; 90 (6): 2001–2018. https://dial-net.unirioja.es/servlet/extart?codigo=7177211
18. Veraksa AN, Bukhalenkova DA, Kovyazina MS. Language proficiency in preschool children with different levels of executive function. Psycho Russia: State Art. 2018; 11 (4): 115–129. doi: 10.11621/pir.2018.0408
19. Zambrano F. ICT in our social sphere. University Digital J. 2009; 10 (11). Recovered from: http://www.revista.unam.mx/vol.10/num11/art79/int79.htm
20. Pons M, Bordoy A, Alemany E, Huget O, Zagaglia A, Slyvka S, Yáñez AM. Family habits related to excessive use of recreational screens (television and video games) in childhood. Rev Esp Salud Pública. 2021; 95 (1): 1-13. Extracted on 04/25/2023 from https://dial-net.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=7957690
21. Waisman I, Hidalgo E, Rossi ML. Screen use among young children in a city of Argentina. Argentine Pediatr Archives. 2018; 116 (2): 186-195. https://dx.doi.org/10.5546/aap.2018.e186
22. Rodríguez Sas O, Estrada LC. Incidence of screen use in girls and boys under 2 years of age. J Psycho. 2021; 22 (1): 86 – 101. https://doi.org/10.24215/2422572Xe086
23. Page MJ, McKenzie JE, Bossuyt PM, Boutron I, Hoffmann TC, Mulrow CD, Shamseer L, Tetzlaff JM, Akl EA, Brennan SE, Chou R, Glanville J, Grimshaw JM, Hróbjartsson A, Lalu MM, Li T, Loder EW, Mayo-Wilson E, McDonald S, Moher D. The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ. 2021; 372: 129-156. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71
24. Lui KYK, Hendry A, Fiske A, Dvergsdal H, Holmboe K. Associations between touchscreen exposure and hot and cool inhibitory control in 10-month-old infants. Infant Behavior Developm. 2021; 65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infbeh.2021.101649
25. McHarg G, RADRHCTNS Team. Infant screen exposure links to toddlers' inhibition, but not other EF constructs: A propensity score study. Childhood. 2020; 25 (2). https://doi.org/10.1111/infa.12325
26. Kostyrka-Allchorne K, Cooper NR, Kennett S, Nestler S, Simpson, A. The short-term effect of video editing pace on children's inhibition and N2 and P3 ERP components during visual go/no-go task. Developm Neuropsycho. 2019; 44 (4): 385–396. https://doi.org/10.1080/87565641.2019.1630628
27. Martins CM de L, Bandeira PFR, Lemos NBAG, Bezerra TA, Clark CCT, Mota J, Duncan, MJ. A Network Perspective on the Relationship between Screen Time, Executive Function, and Fundamental Motor Skills among Preschoolers. IJ Environmental Research Public Health. 2020; 17 (23): 1–12. https://doi.org/10.3390/IJERPH17238861
28. McHarg G, Ribner AD, Devine RT, Hughes C. Screen Time, and Executive Function in Toddlerhood: A Longitudinal Study. Frontiers Psycho. 2020; 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/FPSYG.2020.570392
29. Portugal AM, Hendry A, Smith TJ, Bedford R. Do pre-schoolers with high touchscreen use show executive function differences. Computers Human Behavior. 2023; 139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2022.107553
30. Rhodes SM, Stewart TM, Kanevski M. Immediate impact of fantastic television content on children's executive functions. British J Devel¬opm Psycho. 2020; 38 (2): 268-288.https://doi.org/10.1111/bjdp.12318
31. Li H, Wu D, Yang J, Luo J, Xie S, Chang C. Tablet use affects preschoolers' executive function: fNIRS evidence from the dimensional change card sort task. Brain Sci. 2021; 11 (5): 567. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/brai-nsci11050567
32. Zhang Z, Adamo KB, Ogden N, Goldfield GS, Okely AD, Kuzik N, Crozier M, Hunter S, Predy M, Carson V. Associations between screen time and cognitive development in preschoolers. J Pediatr Child Health. 2021; 27 (2): 105–110. https://doi.org/10.1093/PCH/PXAB067
33. Axelsson EI, Purcell K, Asis A, Paech G, Metse A, Murphy D, Robson A. Preschoolers' engagement with screen content and associa-tions with sleep and cognitive development. Psychological Act. 2022; 230. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2022.103762
34. Law E, Han M, Lai Z, Lim S, Ong Z, Ng V, Gabard-Durnam LJ, Wilkinson CL, Levin A, Rifkin-Graboi A, Daniel LM, Gluckman P, Chong Y, Meaney M, Nelson C. Associations between infant screen use, electroencephalog-raphy markers, and cognitive outcomes. JAMA Pediatr. 2023; 177 (3): 311-318. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2022.5674c
35. Hutton JS. Functional Connectivity of Attention, Visual and Language Networks during Audio, Illustrated and Animated Stories in Preschool-Age Children. Brain Connectivity. 2019; 9 (7): 580-592. doi: 10.1089/brain.2019.0679
36. Operto FF, Pastorino GMG, Marciano J, de Simone V, Volini AP, Oliveri M, Vuonaiuto R, Vetri L, Viggiano A, Coppola G. Digital devices use and language skills in children between 8 and 36 months. Brain Sci. 2020; 10 (9): 1-13. doi:10.3390/brainsci10090656
37. Nichols DL. The context of background TV ex-posure and children's executive functioning. Pediatr Research. 2022; 92 (4): 1168–1174.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-021-01916-6
38. Huber B, Yeates M, Meyer D, Fleckhammer L, Kaufman J. The effects of screen media content on young children's executive functioning. J Experim Child Psych. 2018; 70: 72-85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2018.01.006
39. Raya M. Higher access to screens is related to decreased functional connectivity between neu-ral networks associated with basic attention skills and cognitive control in children. Child Neuropsycho. 2023; 29 (4): 666-685. doi:10.1080/09297049.2022.2110577
2. Rebollo Muñoz MP. Does screen time in front of electronic devices influence child development? [Final Degree Project, University of the Balearic Islands]. Institutional Repository – University Balearic Islands. 2020. http://hdl.han¬dle.net/11201/153082
3. Santos-Caamaño FJ, Vázquez-Cancelo MJ, Rodríguez-Machado ER. Digital technologies and learning ecologies: Challenges and oppor-tunities. Educat S. XXI. 2021;39 (2): 19-40. https://doi.org/10.6018/educatio.466091
4. American Academy of Pediatrics. Beyond Screen Time: A parent's guide to media use. Pediatr Patient Educat. 2021. Retrieved on 04/10/2023 from https://doi.org/10.1542/peo_document099
5. American Academy of Pediatrics. Media and young minds. Pediatrics.2016; 138 (5): e20162591. Retrieved on 04/10/2023 from https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-2591
6. Huber B, Yeates M, Meyer D, Fleckhammer L, Kaufman J. The effects of screen media content on young children's executive functioning. J Ex-periment Child Psych. 2018; 170: 72-85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2018.01.006
7. Suárez Tipán JB. Theoretical analysis of the negative impact on neurodevelopment due to the use of technological devices in early childhood. [Final Degree Project, Central University of Ecuador]. Institutional Repository – Central University Ecuador. 2022. http://www.dspace.uce.edu.ec/handle/25000/27157
8. Hutton JS, Dudley J, Horowitz-Kraus T, Dewit T, Holland SK. Associations between screen-based media use and brain white matter integrity in preschool-aged children. JAMA Pediatr 2020; 174 (1): 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1001(hamapediatrics.2019.3869
9. Frejerman N, Grañana N (Comps). Child neuro-psychology. Paidós. 2017.Argentina.
10. Anderson V. Assessing executive functions in children: biological, psychological, and devel-opmental considerations. Pediatr Rehabilit. 2001; 4 (3): 119-136. doi:10.1080/13638490110091347
11. Wu JB, Yin XN, Qiu SY, Wen GM, Yang WK, Zhang JY, Zhao YF, Wang X. Association between screen time and hyperactive behaviors in children under 3 years in China. Frontiers psychiatry. 2022; 13: 977879. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.977879
12. Jourdren M., Bucaille A., Ropars J. The impact of screen exposure on attention abilities in young children: a systematic review. Pediatr neurology. 2023; 142: 76-88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2023.01.005
13. Arora A, Arora A. Effects of smart voice control devices on children: current challenges and future perspectives. Archives Disease Childhood. 2022; 107 (12): 1129-1130. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2022-323888
14. Cui J, Li L, Dong C. (2022). The associations between specific-type sedentary behaviors and cognitive flexibility in adolescents. Frontiers human neurosci. 2022; 16: 910624. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.910624
15. Manwell LA, Merelle TM, Ciccarelli RE. Digital dementia in the internet generation: excessive screen time during brain development will increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias in adulthood. J Integrative Neurosci. 2022; 21 (1): 28.https://doi.org/10.31083/j.jin2101028
16. Abellán L. Relationship between language development and executive functions in subjects from 0 to 6 years old. A systematic review. IJ New Education. 2022; 10: 106-126. https://doi.org/10.24310/IJNE.10.2022.15730
17. Daneri MP, Blair C, Kuhn LJ, Vernon-Feagans L, Greenberg M, Cox M, Burchinal P, Willoughby M, Garrett-Peters P, Mills-Koonce R, Investigators TFLPK. Maternal Language and Child Vocabulary Mediate Relations Between Socioeconomic Status and Executive Function During Early Childhood. Child Developm. 2019; 90 (6): 2001–2018. https://dial-net.unirioja.es/servlet/extart?codigo=7177211
18. Veraksa AN, Bukhalenkova DA, Kovyazina MS. Language proficiency in preschool children with different levels of executive function. Psycho Russia: State Art. 2018; 11 (4): 115–129. doi: 10.11621/pir.2018.0408
19. Zambrano F. ICT in our social sphere. University Digital J. 2009; 10 (11). Recovered from: http://www.revista.unam.mx/vol.10/num11/art79/int79.htm
20. Pons M, Bordoy A, Alemany E, Huget O, Zagaglia A, Slyvka S, Yáñez AM. Family habits related to excessive use of recreational screens (television and video games) in childhood. Rev Esp Salud Pública. 2021; 95 (1): 1-13. Extracted on 04/25/2023 from https://dial-net.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=7957690
21. Waisman I, Hidalgo E, Rossi ML. Screen use among young children in a city of Argentina. Argentine Pediatr Archives. 2018; 116 (2): 186-195. https://dx.doi.org/10.5546/aap.2018.e186
22. Rodríguez Sas O, Estrada LC. Incidence of screen use in girls and boys under 2 years of age. J Psycho. 2021; 22 (1): 86 – 101. https://doi.org/10.24215/2422572Xe086
23. Page MJ, McKenzie JE, Bossuyt PM, Boutron I, Hoffmann TC, Mulrow CD, Shamseer L, Tetzlaff JM, Akl EA, Brennan SE, Chou R, Glanville J, Grimshaw JM, Hróbjartsson A, Lalu MM, Li T, Loder EW, Mayo-Wilson E, McDonald S, Moher D. The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ. 2021; 372: 129-156. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71
24. Lui KYK, Hendry A, Fiske A, Dvergsdal H, Holmboe K. Associations between touchscreen exposure and hot and cool inhibitory control in 10-month-old infants. Infant Behavior Developm. 2021; 65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infbeh.2021.101649
25. McHarg G, RADRHCTNS Team. Infant screen exposure links to toddlers' inhibition, but not other EF constructs: A propensity score study. Childhood. 2020; 25 (2). https://doi.org/10.1111/infa.12325
26. Kostyrka-Allchorne K, Cooper NR, Kennett S, Nestler S, Simpson, A. The short-term effect of video editing pace on children's inhibition and N2 and P3 ERP components during visual go/no-go task. Developm Neuropsycho. 2019; 44 (4): 385–396. https://doi.org/10.1080/87565641.2019.1630628
27. Martins CM de L, Bandeira PFR, Lemos NBAG, Bezerra TA, Clark CCT, Mota J, Duncan, MJ. A Network Perspective on the Relationship between Screen Time, Executive Function, and Fundamental Motor Skills among Preschoolers. IJ Environmental Research Public Health. 2020; 17 (23): 1–12. https://doi.org/10.3390/IJERPH17238861
28. McHarg G, Ribner AD, Devine RT, Hughes C. Screen Time, and Executive Function in Toddlerhood: A Longitudinal Study. Frontiers Psycho. 2020; 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/FPSYG.2020.570392
29. Portugal AM, Hendry A, Smith TJ, Bedford R. Do pre-schoolers with high touchscreen use show executive function differences. Computers Human Behavior. 2023; 139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2022.107553
30. Rhodes SM, Stewart TM, Kanevski M. Immediate impact of fantastic television content on children's executive functions. British J Devel¬opm Psycho. 2020; 38 (2): 268-288.https://doi.org/10.1111/bjdp.12318
31. Li H, Wu D, Yang J, Luo J, Xie S, Chang C. Tablet use affects preschoolers' executive function: fNIRS evidence from the dimensional change card sort task. Brain Sci. 2021; 11 (5): 567. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/brai-nsci11050567
32. Zhang Z, Adamo KB, Ogden N, Goldfield GS, Okely AD, Kuzik N, Crozier M, Hunter S, Predy M, Carson V. Associations between screen time and cognitive development in preschoolers. J Pediatr Child Health. 2021; 27 (2): 105–110. https://doi.org/10.1093/PCH/PXAB067
33. Axelsson EI, Purcell K, Asis A, Paech G, Metse A, Murphy D, Robson A. Preschoolers' engagement with screen content and associa-tions with sleep and cognitive development. Psychological Act. 2022; 230. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2022.103762
34. Law E, Han M, Lai Z, Lim S, Ong Z, Ng V, Gabard-Durnam LJ, Wilkinson CL, Levin A, Rifkin-Graboi A, Daniel LM, Gluckman P, Chong Y, Meaney M, Nelson C. Associations between infant screen use, electroencephalog-raphy markers, and cognitive outcomes. JAMA Pediatr. 2023; 177 (3): 311-318. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2022.5674c
35. Hutton JS. Functional Connectivity of Attention, Visual and Language Networks during Audio, Illustrated and Animated Stories in Preschool-Age Children. Brain Connectivity. 2019; 9 (7): 580-592. doi: 10.1089/brain.2019.0679
36. Operto FF, Pastorino GMG, Marciano J, de Simone V, Volini AP, Oliveri M, Vuonaiuto R, Vetri L, Viggiano A, Coppola G. Digital devices use and language skills in children between 8 and 36 months. Brain Sci. 2020; 10 (9): 1-13. doi:10.3390/brainsci10090656
37. Nichols DL. The context of background TV ex-posure and children's executive functioning. Pediatr Research. 2022; 92 (4): 1168–1174.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-021-01916-6
38. Huber B, Yeates M, Meyer D, Fleckhammer L, Kaufman J. The effects of screen media content on young children's executive functioning. J Experim Child Psych. 2018; 70: 72-85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2018.01.006
39. Raya M. Higher access to screens is related to decreased functional connectivity between neu-ral networks associated with basic attention skills and cognitive control in children. Child Neuropsycho. 2023; 29 (4): 666-685. doi:10.1080/09297049.2022.2110577