Gadget screens and lack of sleep cause depression

More than a thousand people took part in the experiment. All of them filled out questionnaires about their sleep and screen time. And then we had an MRI scan of the brain. It turned out that for those who slept worse and spent more time on the phone or at the computer, the white matter looked less organized — as if curved paths through the forest had formed instead of smooth highways in the brain.

Such “looping routes” between brain regions were more common in those who also reported poor mood, decreased motivation, and symptoms of depression.

Imagine that the brain is a huge metropolis. It has areas responsible for different functions: some for emotions, others for attention, memory, speech, and coordination. In order for them to work harmoniously together, white—matter connection routes are laid between them. It is through them that signals and information are transmitted. The stronger and clearer these pathways are, the faster and more accurately the brain reacts.

If the white matter becomes loose and disorganized — for example, due to constant lack of sleep and overload with gadgets – the signals get stuck in traffic jams. Emotional reactions become slow or unstable, attention decreases, and anxiety increases. This is exactly what the scientists observed in the study participants.

The main author of the study, Dr. João Paulo Lima Santos, emphasizes that gadgets themselves are not harmful. The question is when, for how long, and in what condition we use them. The evening hours are especially critical, when the brain needs to prepare for sleep, but instead it receives a stream of information and light from the screen.

“If the highways of the brain turn into broken country roads, then the movement along them is slower. We deal with emotions worse, get tired faster, and focus harder,” explains Santos.

The conclusions of the study are simple and practical. The first step is to get a good night’s sleep. The second is to review your evening habits. Instead of scrolling through social media an hour before bedtime, it’s better to read a book, take a warm shower, or just sit in silence.

Such small things can be a powerful prevention of mood deterioration and even depression — especially in a world where it’s increasingly difficult to put your phone aside.