What is 'brain rot'? The science behind all the scrolling our brains do
Oxford University Press has chosen “brain decay” as its word of the year.
The term is defined as “a perceived deterioration of a person's mental or intellectual state, especially as a result of excessive use of things (now especially internet content) that are considered unimportant or unchallenging. Also: something that is noted as likely to cause such a deterioration.”
Some experts believe that the constant, endless scrolling of social media and other online content is doing just that – it's rotting our brains.
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Behavioral neurologist Dr. Kyra Bobinet, author of the book “Unstoppable Brain,” told Fox News Digital that there is a growing awareness of brain degeneration and its effects.
“It's in the zeitgeist that people have trouble paying attention for long periods of time. They feel brain fog, [have] slow concentration … They can't do deep work,” said California-based Bobinet.
“And then there's this epidemic of loneliness that's been sitting on the heels of this, because we can't focus on anything, including building relationships.”
A specific part of the brain, called the habenula, is responsible for getting stuck in endless scrolling, according to Bobinet.
The habenula is a central part of the brain involved in a variety of important functions, including motivation and decision making. But if activated, this environment can also “kill our motivation to try,” he noted.
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“It's the heart of when you know you should be doing something, then you do something else instead, like 'scroll doom,'” he said.
Scrolling through social media is also a way to “disconnect” and give the brain a break after a long day, says Bobinet. This is “avoidance behavior,” controlled by the habenula.
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“Anytime you're avoiding something, you know this part of the brain is activated,” she said.
This is how social media addiction can develop, Bobinet warned, as this part of the brain can make it “extremely painful” to stop scrolling.
This can lead to a “dangerous” loss of motivation, the neurologist warns.
“We all need inspiration to live our lives and be proud of ourselves and feel confident and get what we want,” she told Fox News Digital.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution to preventing brain rot, according to Bobinet.
The key is learning what works best for the individual, he said, which involves “switching and tweaking and adjusting as you go,” he said.
“People are resilient,” he added. “Once we know the truth about our bodies, then we can do something about it.”
Dr. Don Grant, national consultant for healthy device management at Newport Healthcare in Los Angeles, called out device makers and content producers for keeping users connected to their devices.
“They are very intelligent, these creators who created these algorithms and developed our limbic system – the same. [way] people who build slot machines do,” he told Fox News Digital. “Pull the handle … you never know what you're going to get.”
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Grant said he worries about “the death of other things,” including thinking.
“We don't have to think about anything anymore,” he said. “We're always picking up our tools. I'm worried about memory. I'm worried about education.”
Grant said he often hears of children spending eight hours at any one night scrolling and watching videos, “which disrupts their sleep hygiene.”
“I say, 'Okay, can you tell me one video that you remember?' I have yet to have one child who will be able to remember anything he saw.”
“Our brain matter is shrinking, our memories are shrinking [and] our attention spans are shrinking,” Grant warned.
An expert gave some tips to avoid getting stuck in the “roll of doom” of “endless, endless” content, especially for children.
Since the Internet is “archived forever,” Grant noted that “FOMO,” or fear of missing out, is not a valid reason to stay online.
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“It's possible call your friend or FaceTime your grandma during the holidays,” she suggested.
Grant also urges people to be more strategic about spending time online, dividing it into 80% “meaningful, legitimate” content and 20% entertainment.
“In terms of digital hygiene and wellness, you can set limits, you can block access,” Grant said. “Set up technology-free times and places in your home, especially for families.”
“Get outside, move a muscle … play memory games, intellectually challenging or educational games.”
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The expert also encourages people to ask themselves a few questions after scrolling to help measure the quality of time spent.
These might include: “Can you tell me how much time you spent online? Did you spend more time than you wanted to? Did you feel better?”
Grant added, “There's a perceived danger to living a virtual life and how we spend our free time — at the end of it, do you really feel good about yourself?”
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