All are screen addicts,” says Dr Gurpreet Singh Dillon, an internal medicine specialist from Indore. School children come to me with complaints of sleep deprivation, heavy eyes and headaches. “Cases of insomnia have gone up between ages 25-40. This ‘smartphonification’ has also become a leading cause of eye strain-usually caused by the HEV light emitted from the screen of a smartphone-in addition to head and neck cramps, mental fog, restlessness, feelings of isolation and a short attention span, especially among the youth. Then comesĪ time when the GPS develops a technical glitch and stops working, leaving one high and dry, because our inner spatial navigation system that used to be robust once, has now rusted.Įvery manner of information today is easily accessible on the smartphone with minimum input required. Not only has it impacted our sense of direction, but also our observation. whereas the GPS has over-simplified an otherwise challenging task. We need complexity to stay alert and aware. It degenerates slowly at first but in some cases, it has led to serious conditions,” says Singh. The hippocampus slows down with too much reliance on external prompts. “We have stopped using the latter, weakening underlying neural connections. GPS is based on the stimulus-response method of navigation, the other being spatial navigation, wherein one depends on memory, repetition and recall. What’s the biggest risk here? The brain’s capability to process and retain new information and comprehend visual cues, in addition to forming memories,” says Singh. It is failing in its ability to remain agile. “The brain isn’t being worked adequately. And then follow a host of neurological disorders, sometimes irreversible. Long-term use of GPS can reduce grey matter density in the hippocampus, the area of the brain associated with memory and learning, essentially. “If you want to be on the ‘right’ road in life, turn off that GPS,” says Mumbai-based psychologist Nupur Singh. Neglect can interfere with sleep, brain development, and emotional and social intelligence, according Besides forming addictive behaviours, an over-reliance on technology raises the risk of developing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. But it has come at a cost-languishing cognitive function that is making us dumb and sloppy,” he says. Sure, technology has made our lives easier. “It’s one of those things that need to be continuously worked out to get more out of it. “The brain will rust if you don’t use it,” according to Pune-based neurologist Dr Pradeep Kumar. But today, technology is doing everything for us from dialling our numbers to completing our sentences. This was not the case till a few decades back when remembering phone numbers and correcting your spellings was the norm.
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A large number of people between the ages of 40-50 are experiencing forgetfulness.