The Science of… Screentime!
7th May 2024 - Last modified 4th July 2024
In honour of screen-free week, we’re taking a look at the science of why excessive screentime can be detrimental to our health, and why it’s important to engage in in screen-free activities.
Screens are inescapable in the modern world (you’re even reading this on one right now!), yet the effects of overexposure to them are well documented. Excessive screentime can have a profound impact on health, especially during childhood development.
Modern LED-backlit screens emit white light with a wavelength of 464nm and an irradiance of 2.1×1013 photons/cm2 of screen space. This is triple the irradiance of non-LED-backlit screens, which have a much lower irradiance of 0.7×1013 photons/cm2.
Although exposure to any backlit screen can be harmful, the effects of LED-backlit screens are the most pronounced. One of the most immediately noticeable effects is suppression of endogenous melatonin expression. Melatonin controls our circadian rhythms, so its suppression leads to dysregulation of our sleep cycles.
This suppression also reduces low-frequency frontal brain activity, which combined with disturbed sleep leads to excessive tiredness, neuralgia, and cognitive impairment. This effect is amplified when the exposure occurs in the evenings or at night [1].
In terms of childhood development, the neurological impact of screentime is a drop in serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The longer children are exposed to screens, the lower their serum concentrations of BDNF. BDNF is key to neuron growth and survival; modulates neurotransmitters; and affects neuron plasticity, which is essential for educational development and forming memories [2].
So, having read all this, maybe consider taking a break from your screens now and then, and see if having some time away from our glowing, glass companions can benefit you!
At Alto Marketing, we’ll do the screentime for you! We specialise in marketing the latest and greatest innovations in science and healthcare. Contact us today to see how we can help promote your products and services.
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References:
1.Anders, D., Bues, M., Cajochen, C., et al. 2011. Evening exposure to a light-emitting diodes (LED)-backlit computer screen affects circadian physiology and cognitive performance. Journal of Applies Physiology, 110, 1432-1438
2.Alberga, A. S., Cameron, J. D., D’Angiulli, A., et al. 2021. Screen time is independently associated with serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in youth with obesity. Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism, 46(9), https://doi.org/10.1139/apnm-2020-0756
