Smart phones alter brain activity

Research by Swiss scientists shows that using smartphones affects the division that touches human touch in the brain.

The Zurich University expert team studied 37 volunteers over a 10-day period. Of these, 26 use smart phones and the rest only use regular ones.

Smart phones are one of the factors affecting brain activity.(Artwork: Antionio Guillem / Fotolia)

Each individual is electrocardiographically tested (EEG), a method of recording neuron electromagnetic pulses in brain activity. The results show that the strongest reaction is triggered by the thumb, followed by the index finger and middle finger.

"By using electroencephalogram, we can assess the ability of the cortex to respond to a mechanical touch on the thumb, forefinger, middle finger of a touchscreen phone user and those people only use old technology communications , " the research team said.

According to experts, for smart phone users, the activity in the cortex, related to the thumb and forefinger, is directly proportional to the intensity of using the phone.

They claim that the sensory processing of the human cortex is being shaped by our use of personal digital technology. The impact of changes in the brain depends on how often the device touches the touch screen.

RT said that the finding could pave the way for studies of brain adaptation to day-to-day activities and factors affecting the agency.