Episode 23- Impact of screen time on the developing brain - Drs Rachael Sharman and Michael Nagel

Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) Podcast- A Polyvagal Theory Informed Therapy

Please enjoy this interesting discussion about the impact of screen time on the developing brain. I am speaking with Doctors Rachael Sharman and Michael Nagel from the school of Psychology at Sunshine Coast University QLD Australia about their new book Becoming Autistic- How technology is altering the minds of the next generation.
We discuss research about the impact of screen time on attention processing, empathy, "Group Think", body image, mental health, and suicide. We also cover the impact of screen time on developing "Theory of Mind"; dopamine and addiction behavior, and a new concept gaining momentum..... "virtual autism"
My goal for today's conversation is to help increase awareness about the impact of screen time and support for parents, individuals, and communities in starting a conversation about establishing screen time guidelines.
I appreciate the book title is a discussion point in itself! But the content is thought-provoking. Please consider being open to listening before drawing conclusions.
Some of the discussion points you will hear about include:

• Why name the book "Becoming Autistic" ....what evidence supports this relationship with screen time?
• What is "Virtual Autism?"
• How the brain is an experience-dependent organ and develops based on interaction with the environment.....consider the ramifications if that environment is predominately online!
• Learn in a very accessible way how the researchers discuss brain development and the impact of screen time
• Adolescence is a period of significant brain rewiring....what is actually happening and how screen time impacting this?
• Developing "Theory of Mind" is crucial to developing so many human traits such as empathy or the awareness that other people have different points of view......how is this being impacted by screen time?
• Self-confidence, body image, interpersonal skills and the impact of social media
• Michael shares research that helps empower parents about setting boundaries for device use
• What is the Echo Chamber effect?
• Internet addiction and cyberbullying
• Evidence showing that time in nature helps reverse autistic-like behaviour

I am sure you all agree that the evidence shows a significant impact of screen time on mental health, brain maturation, and physical development. We know that the technology is here to stay but the evidence indicates we need to establish guidelines about its use. There are so many aspects of this discussion we can unpack from a Polyvagal perspective. Just one I will mention today, but will discuss further in another episode, is self-regulation. We as humans develop neural systems for self-regulation via coregulation with a safe other. It is the experience of being engaged and connected with another safe human that builds the neural networks for self-regulation. Engaging with devices blocks this process.

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Links to Rachael and Michael's research pages:
Rachael Sharman, PhD
Senior Lecturer
Web page: https://www.usc.edu.au/staff-repository/dr-rachael-sharman
Research: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rachael_Sharman?ev=hdr_xprf

Michael C Nagel, PhD
Associate Professor
[e-mail]
https://www.usc.edu.au/staff/associate-professor-michael-nagel

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