A NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF SCREEN EXPOSURE IMPACT FROM CHILDHOOD TO ADULTHOOD: MODULATION OF THE CINGULATE-DOPAMINERGIC CIRCUIT IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the impacts caused by excessive screen exposure, specifically regarding the modulation of the cingulate-dopaminergic circuit from childhood to adulthood. The methodology employed was an integrative literature review, examining secondary sources and neuroimaging data from the last fifteen years concerning developmental neurobiology. The main results reveal that digital super-stimuli physically alter brain architecture via synaptic plasticity, associated with reduced white matter and language delays in childhood, as well as attentional fragmentation and hyperactivity in adolescence. The central mechanism identified is supraphysiological dopamine activation, which weakens the executive monitoring of the anterior cingulate cortex. It is concluded that screens cause systemic structural damage, not just behavioral changes, consolidating the pursuit of immediate gratification. However, neuroplasticity allows for the reversal of such damage through Long-Term Depression (LTD) strategies, requiring strict digital usage regulation and the promotion of human and sensory interactions to restore deep focus and mental health.