Giving up your smartphone for just three days can have a big impact on brain activity, a recent study found. Researchers from Heidelberg University and the University of Cologne in Germany studied 25 young adults aged 18 to 30. The participants were asked to reduce their phone use for 72 hours, using it only for essential communication and work.

Participants underwent MRI scans and psychological tests before and after the phone "break." The study aimed to understand how reducing phone use impacts brain activity. Findings revealed changes in brain function related to addiction-related neurotransmitters.

The researchers said in their paper that they used a long-term study approach to examine how reducing smartphone use affects regular users over time. Their study found a connection between changes in brain activity and neurotransmitters linked to addiction, suggesting that limiting smartphone use can influence brain function in ways similar to addictive behaviors.

During the scans, participants were shown different images, including pictures of smartphones (both turned on and off) and neutral objects like boats and flowers. The study suggests that even briefly limiting smartphone use can change brain activity, highlighting how digital devices affect our neural patterns.

The researchers said that their data does not separate the craving for smartphone use from the craving for social interaction, as both are closely linked today. They also mentioned that while their findings are strong, future studies should focus on clearly distinguishing these two aspects.

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