Multitaskers' Brains Contain Less Grey Matter

Neuroscientists at the University of Sussex have discovered that multitaskers' brains contain less grey matter than their less tech-savvy counterparts, according to recent findings published in the journal Plos One.

The latest findings examine how people who frequently use several media devices at the same time have lower grey-matter density in one region of the brain that supports previous findings linking media-multitasking to poor attention and emotional problems.

"Media multitasking is becoming more prevalent in our lives today and there is increasing concern about its impacts on our cognition and social-emotional well-being. Our study was the first to reveal links between media multitasking and brain structure," said study authors Kep kee Loh and Dr Ryota Kanai in a news release. "The exact mechanisms of these changes are still unclear. Although it is conceivable that individuals with small ACC are more susceptible to multitasking situations due to weaker ability in cognitive control or socio-emotional regulation, it is equally plausible that higher levels of exposure to multitasking situations leads to structural changes in the ACC. A longitudinal study is required to unambiguously determine the direction of causation."

For the study, researchers examined the brain structures of 75 adults who filled out questionnaires based on how often they used media. After studying individual personality traits, they discovered how media devices also had smaller grey matter density in parts of the brain known as the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC)--a region of the rain that's linked to cognitive and emotional control functions.