Study Finds Excessive Screen Exposure Before Age Two Linked to Brain Development Changes, Adolescent Anxiety

Study Finds Excessive Screen Exposure Before Age Two Linked to Brain Development Changes, Adolescent Anxiety
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A new study conducted in Singapore has found that infants who spend excessive time in front of screens before the age of two may experience changes in brain development that are later associated with slower decision-making and higher levels of anxiety during adolescence.

The research showed that children with greater screen exposure in infancy exhibited faster growth in brain regions responsible for visual processing and self-control. Researchers suggest this may be due to the intense sensory stimulation produced by digital screens.

The long-term study was led by assistant professor Tany Ping and her team at the Institute for Human Development under Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), in collaboration with the National University of Singapore. It drew on data from the longitudinal project “Growing Up in Singapore Towards Healthy Outcomes.”

Published in the journal EClinicalMedicine, the study followed 168 children for more than a decade, with brain scans conducted at ages 4.5, 6, and 7.5. This allowed researchers to observe how brain networks developed over time rather than relying on a single assessment.

Notably, screen use at ages three and four did not show the same effects, indicating that the first two years of life are particularly sensitive. The researchers said the findings could help parents and policymakers shape early childhood guidelines to support healthier brain development.