It may seem like a cliché, but if you feel overwhelmed by the non-stop pace of digital media and find it difficult to concentrate on one task or thought, you may have a “popcorn brain.” there is.
“Popcorn brain is the tendency for our attention and focus to jump quickly from one thing to another, like a kernel of corn popping,” says a clinical psychologist. Dr Daniel Glaser told Metro UK last week..
“Popcorn brain” is not new – This term was coined in 2011 Mental health experts are sharing new ways to combat the phenomenon as our lives become more digital, according to University of Washington researcher David Levy.
A research result has been revealed 62.3% of the world’s population uses social media, with an average daily usage time of 2 hours and 23 minutes last month.
Psychologist Daniel Hague told Glamor UK. Last week, we learned that excessive scrolling and viewing new posts, alerts, engagement, and ads triggers a small release of dopamine, which rewards the brain and fuels the cycle.
“Over time, this constant demand for attention and rapid switching between tasks can lead to mental restlessness and a feeling that your brain is ‘jumping around’ as you struggle to stay focused on one task for long periods of time. “This can happen,” Haig explained.
Research by University of California, Irvine They found that the average attention span before switching to another screen has decreased from 2.5 minutes in 2004 to 75 seconds in 2012 to 47 seconds today.
“Several key aspects of popular apps are focused and focused, including variable reward schedules, dopamine microdosing, and intentionally addictive designs that are optimized to maximize engagement over happiness.” It seems to be uniquely suited to dispersing ,” Glaser told Metro.
Constant digital stimulation appears to be affecting brain performance.
Research suggests that neural pathways in the brain are “rerouted or adapted to meet the demands of multitasking and rapid information processing,” which requires “deep and thoughtful engagement with content.” Haig said that this could “impair their ability to learn, which could affect their learning.” , memory and emotional control over time. ”
She warns that “popcorn brain” can have a negative impact on social interactions, patience, mental health and productivity, and increase the likelihood of anxiety and burnout.
Here are some suggestions from Haig and Glaser to alleviate “popcorn brain.”
- Limit your technology use to a certain amount of time and do a digital detox to give your brain a break and recharge.
- Engage in screen-free activities like meditation, enjoying nature, exercising, reading, or creating art.
- Train your brain to always pause and focus on a single task, and not to constantly multitask.
- Take control of your social media usage by deleting apps regularly.
