Student Research Guide SPQ25/ Impacts of Screens on Brain Development

After developing a deeper understanding of the medical depth of screen exposure, the safest level of screen exposure is little to none; however, there is not enough evidence stating that developmental disorders are directly linked to screen time, because there are too many underlying factors that can be the cause. Yes, there is a ton of research with evidence linking the major stressor, but there is not one single direct answer stating screens are the only exact reason for all of the problems in the domino effect of issues. Keep in mind that the best way for these developing humans to learn how to be human is to be taught face-to-face by another human. A laptop is not going to comfort them and tell them that crying is important, that it is okay to express how happy you are by dancing, that being creative can teach you a lot about yourself, and that human connection with one another is the most important and special thing someone can experience in this life, parent or caregiver is going to. Research and knowledge is key in life so being able to understand the limited to no electronic exposure is best may be the knowledge a parent needs to help correct their child's behavior.

Advice for future researchers:

• To get the most out of my research process, I focused on sticking to research studies and medical papers to make sure the information I was developing was correct. 
• Make sure to check the sources because there is a ton of fake news when it comes to controversial topics. 

Reflection on research experience:

My research went great. I chose this topic because I have a child, and I wanted to develop a medical conclusion to see how I should change what my child is exposed to. I wanted to know if the behavioral issues I've seen in other children display were due to excessive screen exposure. I do think it is important to understand for everyone, not just children, that sleep is the center of how our bodies function because during that resting period, there is so many things at play to heal our bodies and grow. 

This is a relatively new topic because technology is so new. It is important to do research on things to understand if it is beneficial. Since covid, there has been a huge spike in electronic usage among children, so the medical and research papers that have come out are very important to pay attention to, even if the reader is not a parent.