The incredible amount of stimuli and information causes scientists to raise the alarm about the popcorn brain epidemic. Although this is not an official medical term, the symptoms are very real. According to researchers, this is a “new intellectual disability” that affects more and more people around the world.
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According to CNBC, the “Data Never Sleeps” report revealed that almost 139 million reels are played on Instagram and Facebook every minute. Researchers noticed that our attention span at the screen decreased from 2.5 minutes to just 47 seconds. The result of overstimulation is a new set of psychological problems that have been termed “popcorn brain.”
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Too much information is not only distracting, but also reduces productivity, impairs memory and increases stress. “Popcorn brain” is a state in which we constantly switch between stimuli, which makes it increasingly difficult for us to calm down and function offline. This phenomenon is becoming more and more common and affects our everyday lives.
Is popcorn brains a new civilization disease? The neurologist is sounding the alarm
As CNBC explains, the concept and description of a new intellectual disability were introduced by researcher David Levy in 2011. It manifests itself by constantly checking the news, social media and notifications. Our brain gets used to processing information quickly, which makes it difficult to concentrate and rest.
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The results of a study involving over 4.5 million people were recently revealed. “Problems with memory and thinking have become the leading health problem reported by American adults,” admitted Yale University vascular neurologist Adam de Havenon, whose conclusions are cited by Medonet.
Neurologist, Ph.D. Olga Milczarek, in an interview with Medonet, admits that more and more people report difficulties with remembering, concentrating or making decisions. Experts emphasize that this is not only an individual problem, but a social phenomenon that can affect entire generations.
Popcorn brain is a threat to everyone. Blame the omnipresent information
“It's not that we become thoughtless. We just start to notice that we think slower and worse. This can be described as a cognitive disability,” explains the neurologist. In her opinion, the problem also applies to Poland, which can be seen in cinemas, where half of the audience watches a phone instead of a movie.
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Research shows that it is young adults who most often complain about difficulty concentrating. The culprit is ubiquitous stimuli – TVs, smartphones, tablets. The brain gets used to quick rewards and it becomes increasingly difficult for it to maintain attention on one task.
Lack of response can lead to faster brain aging and earlier development of dementia. Experts warn that if we do not limit exposure to stimuli, dementia may affect people aged 50-60 in just a decade.
