Popcorn Brain: In today’s fast-paced technological age, people’s addiction to electronic gadgets and social media is as concerning as a contagious disease epidemic. Everyone, particularly the younger generation, is constantly glued to the screen of their smartphone. In most cases, they are mindlessly scrolling through short videos and clips on various topics, without registering important information in their brain. They are constantly online and consume large amounts of Internet data to watch countless short videos and read social media posts, which causes them to have a short attention span.
As a result, they are unable to concentrate on long-form videos or articles, and they regard their slower-paced offline life as boring. Popcorn brain is a condition characterized by a short attention span caused by electronic multitasking, in which the brain is unable to stay focused on a specific topic and instead rapidly jumps from one thought to another, similar to the frequent popping of popcorn kernels.
In 2011, David Levy, a researcher at the University of Washington’s Information School, coined the term ‘popcorn brain’ to describe the brain’s short attention span caused by excessive social media use and addiction to electronic gadgets. Given that the syndrome was discovered when people spent less time online than they do now, popcorn brain is a major cause for concern that requires immediate attention.
Is there a scientific basis behind popcorn brain?
Addiction to devices and social media, which was already a major problem, has worsened. While popcorn brain is not a medically diagnosable syndrome, it can be linked to certain mental illnesses, and the activities that cause it can affect the brain’s circuitry and the release of neurotransmitters.
For example, stress, constant multitasking, and information overload all contribute to popcorn brain. Excessive Internet and social media use can cause this condition, which has a negative impact on one’s mental health.
“The concept of popcorn brain is linked to attention span, cognitive processes, and brain activity. Stress, multitasking, and information overload are all potential contributors to this phenomenon. However, it is more of a colloquial term than a specific scientific concept. While there is no specific medical diagnosis for popcorn brain, it may be linked to conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety disorders, or simply the effects of modern digital lifestyles on cognitive function,” Dr Shivaram Rao K, Consultant Neurophysician, Yashoda Hospitals, Hyderabad, told The Ultimate News.
How can we quantify a short attention span? The maximum amount of time that one can devote to a specific topic without distractions has changed over time.
According to Dr. Dilip Gude, Senior Consultant Physician at Yashoda Hospitals in Hyderabad, in 2003, people were considered to have a short attention span if their minds switched from one thought to another in 180 seconds. In 2012, the number dropped to 75 seconds, and today, the average maximum attention span on a screen is 47 seconds, according to a study conducted by the University of California, Irvine.
“A 2019 study published in the journal Nature Communications demonstrated that people’s attention spans are dwindling over time. A popcorn brain leads one to believe that all tasks are impossible and unmanageable, and that they don’t have enough time to complete them. This causes overwhelming restlessness and urgency. “They are always alert and on their toes, even on days when there may be no work,” said Dr. Gude.
Popcorn brain is a result of addiction and can be identified by specific signs and symptoms. Dr. Gude explained that these symptoms include scattered and bouncy thoughts, a decreased attention span, a fragmented mental state, tangential thought processes, anxiety and depression, a constant feeling of restlessness, frequent distractions and interruptions, a constant urge to check notifications, poor concentration, a flooded sense of chaos, and a desire to seek validation from social media.
How excessive use of social media leads to symptoms of popcorn brain, and impacts mental health
Now, a question arises as to how the use of social media affects the brain’s circuitry and causes neurotransmitter release, ultimately leading to popcorn brain.
When someone scrolls through social media, their feed is constantly being updated with new information. According to Dr. Bharath Kumar Surisetti, Consultant Neurophysician at Yashoda Hospitals in Hyderabad, the unexpected posts can cause people to feel euphoric due to the release of a neurotransmitter known as dopamine.
However, the euphoria caused by the excitement of discovering a particular video or post is fleeting, and in order to feel happy again, the person continues to scroll.
Addiction to a device screen stems from an insatiable desire for short-term pleasure.
According to Dr. Rao, research suggests that excessive social media use has four effects on the brain’s circuitry and functions, resulting in popcorn brain.
These include reward system activation, decreased attention span and memory, increased social comparison and lower self-esteem, and increased stress and anxiety.
Dr. Rao explained that receiving likes and positive comments on social media can activate the brain’s reward system. This is similar to how the brain reacts to other pleasurable stimuli, such as food and money. Thus, activating the reward system causes social media addiction.
He also claimed that constantly checking social media feeds could impair attention span and memory consolidation. “The brain may become accustomed to rapid and shallow processing of information, rather than deep and focused attention.”
People are often upset when they see certain posts on social media. For example, when people see pictures of their friends and acquaintances living lavishly, they tend to compare themselves to others. They also have lower self-esteem. To alleviate this feeling of unease, the person craves a dopamine rush, so they continue scrolling through social media in the hopes of seeing a post that makes them happy.
While scrolling, they may come across another picture of someone who appears to be living a happier life than them, triggering feelings of self-doubt and self-loathing. The vicious cycle continues, and the individual experiences not only misery, anxiety, and stress, but also popcorn brain symptoms.
“Excessive social media use can increase social comparison, which can have a negative impact on self-esteem and mental health. Constant exposure to curated, idealised images and lifestyles on social media can lead to feelings of inadequacy or dissatisfaction. “Heavy social media use has also been linked to increased stress and anxiety levels, particularly in vulnerable individuals,” Dr Rao explained.
While individual susceptibility and social media usage patterns influence how one’s brain circuitry and function are affected, every social media addict is bound to experience popcorn brain symptoms at some point in their lives.
“Over time, all the factors may contribute to a more scattered or unfocused state of mind, which is characteristic of a popcorn brain,” according to Dr. Rao.
According to Dr. Surisetti, popcorn brain also has an impact on mental health and quality of life in the form of decreased productivity, impaired cognitive function, decreased well-being, and relationship strain.
He explained that popcorn brain disrupts concentration, resulting in decreased focus and productivity and hindering the efficient completion of tasks. “The brain struggles to process and retain information, which causes forgetfulness, difficulty recalling details, and poor decision-making skills. Furthermore, divided attention can strain interpersonal relationships because people may fail to fully engage with others, resulting in feelings of disconnect. All of these factors are detrimental to overall well-being, preventing people from fully experiencing life’s moments and contributing to dissatisfaction.”
How to prevent popcorn brain if one is chronically online
It is critical for someone to get their life in order if they are constantly online, because social media addiction causes popcorn brain symptoms and lowers their quality of life. People who are addicted to social media must make a commitment to themselves that they will not spend more than a certain amount of time on their screens each day. They must meditate, exercise, and eat a well-balanced diet in order to maintain a healthy mental state.
“To avoid popcorn brain, limit your time on social media and digital devices. They must set aside specific times for checking emails, social media, and other online activities to avoid constant distractions. Second, people should concentrate on one task at a time rather than attempting to multitask. This enables deeper concentration and more efficient task completion. Dr. Rao suggested that practicing mindfulness techniques such as meditation and deep breathing exercises can help to increase awareness and attention control.
According to Dr. Gude, one must have “no-screen days” each week, which means completely disconnecting from social media on those days. Instead, they need to participate in outdoor sports and activities to feel refreshed and rejuvenated.
Both Dr. Rao and Dr. Surisetti recommended that people prioritize tasks with the help of task managers and allocate sufficient time for each task to prevent feelings of overwhelmness, incorporate regular breaks into their work or study routine to refresh their mind and prevent mental fatigue, reduce unnecessary distractions by decluttering their physical and digital environments, minimize background noise, and close unnecessary tabs or apps, exercise regularly to improve cognitive function and mood regulation, eat a well-balanced diet, stay hydrated, get enough sleep, and effectively manage stress to ensure optimal brain function and mental health.
People should also understand that not everything they see on social media is real, because pictures only show one’s happiness in relation to materialistic things and do not reflect their inner state of mind.
Thus, incorporating these habits into one’s life will result in increased mental clarity, focus, productivity, attention span, memory, and cognitive abilities.