Are iPads, smartphones and Xboxes a form of digital drug? Recent brain imaging research is showing that they affect the brain’s frontal cortex exactly like cocaine.

The frontal cortex controls executive functioning, including impulse control. Technology is so hyper-arousing that it raises dopamine levels — the feel-good neurotransmitter most involved in the addiction dynamic — as much as sex.

Dr. Peter Whybrow, director of neuroscience at UCLA calls screens “electronic cocaine” and Chinese researchers call them “digital heroin”. Even Dr. Andrew Doan, head of addiction research for the Pentagon and the U.S. Navy calls video games and screen technologies digital “pharmakeia” (Greek for drug).

No wonder parents have a hard time peeling kids away from their screens. Hundreds of clinical studies show that screens increase depression, anxiety and aggression and can even lead to psychotic-like features where the video gamer loses touch with reality.

SNIP