Limited smartphone use for three days alters brain function: Study
Updated: Mar 5th, 2025
A recent study conducted by researchers at Heidelberg University and the University of Cologne in Germany suggests that taking a break from smartphone use for just three days can lead to noticeable changes in brain activity.
The study ‘Effects of smartphone restriction on cue-related neural activity’, published in the journal ‘Computers in Human Behaviour’, involved 25 young adults aged between 18 and 30. These participants were instructed to minimise their smartphone usage, restricting it to work-related tasks and essential communication only.
Before and after this period of reduced phone use, they underwent MRI scans and psychological assessments to evaluate how limiting screen time influenced brain function. The findings indicated significant changes in brain activation linked to addiction-related neurotransmitter systems.
When participants were exposed to images of smartphones, researchers observed alterations in brain regions associated with reward processing and cravings. These changes mirrored neural responses commonly seen in substance addictions, such as those related to nicotine or alcohol, suggesting that smartphones could have addictive properties.
Furthermore, the study linked these neural shifts to dopamine and serotonin systems – neurotransmitters that play a crucial role in mood regulation and compulsive behavior.
However, psychological tests did not indicate any significant changes in mood or feelings of withdrawal among participants. While some volunteers reported mood improvements, these observations were not reflected as statistically significant in the test data.
The research did not explore in depth why certain smartphone behaviors triggered these brain activity changes, but experts suggest that various factors might contribute. It is also likely that not all phone-related activities have the same level of addictive potential.
These findings contribute to the growing body of evidence on the impact of smartphone use on brain function, raising important questions about digital consumption habits and their long-term effects.
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