Abstract
Objective: To synthesize evidence on the cognitive and neural impacts of digital addiction in adolescents.
Methods: Ten studies published between 2010 and 2024 were reviewed using databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and PsycINFO. Data were extracted for quantitative synthesis, and meta-analysis was performed where possible.
Results: Meta-analysis revealed a pooled effect size of 0.71 (95% CI: 0.60–0.82). Findings include a 25% reduction in sustained attention, a 30% decline in memory linked to hippocampal activity, and up to 15% reductions in grey matter volume in critical brain regions. Emotional regulation challenges, including mood instability, correlated with heightened reward system activity.
Conclusion: The findings highlight the urgent need for targeted interventions to mitigate the adverse effects of digital addiction on adolescent brain development, ensuring balanced cognitive and emotional growth.
Article Type
Systematic Review
First Page
359
Last Page
369
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Recommended Citation
Khan, Sameer M.
(2026)
"Impact of Digital Addiction in Adolescents: Cognitive Deficits, Emotional Dysregulation, and Neurophysiological Alterations - A Systematic Review,"
Neurosciences: Vol. 31:
Iss.
4, Article 3.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17712/1658-3183.2815