When allowing a child to spend time in front of a computer, TV, tablet or phone, it is good to know the effects that such exposure will have on the child's brain and also later on the adult who will have to deal with these effects by trying to reverse them, which may not be entirely possible.
I would like to quote here an excerpt from the book: TECH. Criticism of the Development of the Technological Environment. Jan Białek, which I recently read:
translations from Polish
"Within 30 [of exposure to the screen] seconds, the brain switches mainly from beta waves, indicating an active, alert and conscious brain mode, to alpha waves, indicating the REM sleep phase, relaxation or awakening from sleep, a state of aimless fantasy and dreams below the threshold of consciousness.
Studies have shown that the left hemisphere of the brain, which processes information logically and analytically, shuts down... This allows the right hemisphere of the brain, which processes information emotionally and indiscriminately to act unrestricted. ...In people addicted to screen exposure, studies have shown atrophy, shrinkage or loss of tissue volume in the gray matter of the brain.
Areas affected by atrophy include the frontal lobe, which regulates executive functions such as planning, prioritizing, organizing, impulse control and performing actions. Loss was also seen in the striatum, which is involved in the reward system and suppression of socially unacceptable impulses.
Of particular importance was damage to an area known as the Insula, which is involved in the ability to develop empathy and compassion for others and the ability to take physical cues from emotions. in addition to the obvious link to aggressive behavior, these skills dictate the depth and quality of personal relationships.
Studies have also shown a loss of integrity of the brain's white matter. Heterogeneous white matter translates into a loss of communication in the brain including connections to and from different lobes of the same hemisphere, connections between the right and left hemispheres and pathways between the higher (cognitive) o lower (emotional, experiential) centers of the brain.
Reduced thickness of the cerebral cortex has been found among adolescent boys addicted to games and TV, and reduced thickness of the cortical layer in the frontal lobe has been found to correlate with impaired cognitive tasks.
Brain imaging studies have discovered decreased information processing and reduced impulse inhibition, increased susceptibility to reward and insensitivity to loss, and abnormal spontaneous brain activity associated with poor performance on tasks. Research on video games has shown that dopamine is released during gaming, with the hunger to play causing changes in the brain that are similar to drug cravings.... reduction in the number of dopamine receptors and transporters."
I watched the IGN review video and another one, and Genshin Impact seems like a harmless imitation of Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild. So my wife and I gave permission to our daughter to play it.
Harmless? I sense wishful thinking on your part.
