How many media do you have operating right now? Listening to music while surfing the web with sixteen tabs while watching TV while keeping an eye on your twitter feed? Well, meet your new friend: brain damage.
A study published in PLOS One has found that people who heavily media multitask have high levels of brain damage. Seventy-five media-savvy adults took part in the study, which saw them receiving brain scans and completing a survey on their media usage. Those who media multitasked were more likely to have damage to their anterior cingulate cortex, an area of the brain responsible for regulating negative emotions. Damage to it is associated with OCD, depression, and addiction disorders.
Here’s the take-away: focus on one thing at a time. Your brain will thank you.
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Photo courtesy of Ryan Ritchie.
