Dr. Joe Q&A – Cell phones and dopamine
Dr. Joe Q&A – Cell phones and dopamine
Dr. Joe discusses the impact of cellphone use on the brain, specifically how it affects dopamine levels and our ability to meditate. This is an excellent question! The core concern is how cellphones influence our brain chemistry, particularly dopamine levels, and how this affects our ability to focus and meditate. Having raised three children, Dr. Joe emphasizes that kids today are constantly using technology, and this can have significant effects.
When children use cellphones for information or stimulation, they are engaging with their brains in ways that can lead to dopamine release. However, it’s important for them (and adults) to take breaks and disconnect from these devices, just as you would with any other form of stimulation. If you can’t disconnect from your cellphone, it may begin to control you. Would you agree? Technology keeps us socially connected, but it should be used with discernment.
Dr. Joe recommends that people take time away from their devices to reconnect with nature. Activities like hiking, boating, or simply watching a sunset help broaden focus and can induce alpha brainwaves, which are beneficial for mental relaxation and clarity.
Research on cellphones and video games has shown the addictive potential of these activities. In an experiment, kids were offered money to stop playing a video game within five seconds of a bell ringing. None of them could stop in time, illustrating just how addictive these games can be. The brain releases dopamine, a pleasure chemical, when engaging with these stimuli, whether it’s gaming or receiving a message. However, if you overdo it, the brain becomes overwhelmed by the dopamine release, leading to desensitization.
This desensitization means that the brain requires more stimulation to achieve the same pleasure response. Over time, the pleasure centers of the brain recalibrate, and more intense stimulation (like gaming or phone use) becomes necessary to feel pleasure. This process, known as anhedonia, makes it difficult to derive pleasure from everyday activities, such as walking the dog, spending time with family, or watching a sunset.
The real danger arises when learning, which should naturally be rewarding, becomes less stimulating due to this dopamine overload. Kids who are overstimulated by gaming or social media may seek out trouble or perform disruptive behaviors just to arouse their brains, even though this leads to negative outcomes. The brain’s pleasure centers are no longer responsive to everyday rewards, and this can affect their behavior as they grow older.
In summary, while technology can provide us with many benefits, it’s essential to understand its impact on dopamine levels and brain chemistry. Taking regular breaks and reconnecting with nature can help reset the brain, improving our ability to focus, meditate, and appreciate life’s simple pleasures.
