Three days without a smartphone: scientists have recorded noticeable changes in brain function

It's made its way into our daily lives, and sometimes we find it hard to give up the constant notifications and screen checks. But a new study in the journal Computers in Human Behaviour gives us reason to think about how a short "digital detox" might affect the brain.

The gist of the experiment

• Participants: 25 young adults (18-30 years old) who regularly use smartphones. Before beginning, they were screened for psychological and social difficulties associated with digital device use and ruled out possible psychiatric disorders.
• Limit: For 72 hours, the subjects were told to use their smartphones only "as needed" - for work, study and urgent communication with family or loved ones. All "recreational" and "useless" time spent with the gadget was forbidden.
• METHODS: Participants completed a questionnaire (about mood and habits) and had a functional MRI (fMRI) scan before and after the "digital diet". During the second scan, they were shown images of neutral scenes (landscapes, boats) and smartphones off and on.

Results

1. Change in brain activity
   After three days with smartphone restriction, the participants recorded shifts in brain regions associated with the reward system as well as neurotransmitters (dopamine, serotonin). These neurotransmitters influence mood, motivation and addiction formation.

2. Similarities to addiction behaviour
   Researchers note that some patterns of brain activity recorded in people deprived of their usual devices resemble the reactions during withdrawal from drugs or food addiction - especially in the group that used smartphones particularly intensively ("excessive smartphone use", ESU).

3. Who is more harmed by smartphones?
   The paper emphasises that the term "smartphone addiction" is still debated. Experts believe that it is a simplistic definition - there are complex emotional, social and psychological aspects behind it. Nevertheless, users who are overly absorbed in the screen are recorded to have both physical and mental effects similar to other forms of addiction.

Conclusions and significance

The researchers emphasise the importance of understanding what happens in the brain during short-term gadget withdrawal. Knowing how much brain activity changes in response to reduced smartphone use will help develop healthier digital habits.

In practical terms, the results urge us to pay attention to how often and why we pick up a smartphone. A short "digital detox", according to the authors, can be useful for preventing "digital" fatigue and maintaining psychological balance. At the same time, it is important not to ignore modern technologies, but to learn to use them within reasonable limits, so as not to bring the brain to a state comparable to the "withdrawal" syndrome in traditional addictions.

Source:
Mike M. Schmitgen et al, Effects of smartphone restriction on cue-related neural activity, Computers in Human Behaviour (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2025.108610