As families gear up for the new school year, doctors are warning about the rise of "popcorn brain," a term describing the constant jumping of attention from one notification to another in our always-connected world.
While not a medical diagnosis, experts note now is the time to focus on it as back-to-school season hits high gear.
First of all, what is popcorn brain?
Per Parents Magazine, the term was coined to describe a "state of being wherein individuals are so hooked on digital multitasking that slower-paced everyday tasks hold no interest."
David M. Levy, PhD, a University of Washington computer sciences professor, came up with it and it essentially says that dopamine hits from constant scrolling diminishes attention spans and interests in hobbies, tasks, and even social real-life social interactions.
Their brains are being rewired with a different reward system than the one humans have had since the dawn of ... humans.
Dr. Christina Lee from Kaiser Permanente explains how the back-to-school season exacerbates attention overload due to the influx of responsibilities and passive screen time.
"Popcorn brain is not an official medical diagnosis, but it is a good way to describe what happens when your mind is bouncing around from one topic to another, one thought to another, and it can't settle," said Dr. Christina Lee, a Kaiser Permanente physician. "It's similar to popcorn popping in a bag."
- Difficulty concentrating and rapid shifts in attention
- Constant craving for stimulation
- Difficulty retaining information
- Difficulty following multi-step directions
- Feeling anxious and unable to regulate emotions
Dr, Lee and other experts have a simple solution: limit screen time, which forces plastic brains that are still growing to learn the skills necessary for the real world.
Experts also encourage mindfulness, chores, family dinners, walks -- anything that makes young brains settle down and focus on the here and now.
The American Academy of Pediatrics developed a family media plan with suggestions for how to raise successful adults who can handle real life.
By making small changes in technology use, families can navigate the school transition more smoothly and foster healthier relationships.
"Research shows that content quality shapes whether kids have positive or negative relationships with media," the AAP wrote. "Learn about what your kids play or watch. Help them think about which videos and games they use that have too much violence, rude role-modeling, unrealistic beauty standards or commercialism.
"Although these things "trend" on social media, they can influence kids' emotions and behavior. To find good replacement videos and games, Common Sense Media is a great resource."
