- Media, especially television, can negatively impact brain development in young children. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no TV for children under 2 and limiting screen time for older children. - Excessive media use hinders social development and exploration, while moderate use that incorporates social interaction is less harmful. - Research links heavy television watching to increased risks of ADHD, Alzheimer's, autism, sleep issues, cancer, and obesity, especially when it replaces interactive activities.

1. Media Effects on the Brain
By: Ciara Rutten

2. What is Media?
• The means of communication, such as radio
and television, newspapers, and magazines,
that reach or influence people widely.
• Can also include computer and video games

3. Media and Young Children
• The American Academy of Pediatrics
recommends :
• NO television for children 2 years old or younger
• No more than 1 or 2 hours of television for children
older than that.
•

4. Media and Children
• “Our brain is designed to adapt its cortical networks to the
environment in which it lives (e.g., to master the local
language). A socially interactive environment that
stimulates curiosity and exploration enhances the
development of an effective brain. Thus, excessive
childhood involvement with electronic media that limit
social interaction could hinder the development of a brain's
social systems. Conversely, denying a child easy and
extensive exploration of electronic technology helps to
create an electronically hampered adult in an increasingly
electronic culture. Surfing on TV, video, the Internet, and
anything else that's electronic is the screenagers version of
how to drive a car by first successfully mastering a
tricycle/wagon/bicycle”--Robert Sylwester

5. T.V. Addictive?
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=end
screen&v=fYsT2L1w2sU&NR=1
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwEFMO
IRQQE&feature=related
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02nxobcw
gzY

6. Media and Health
• Current research shows that media, Television
in particular has a strong link to many health
issues including
• ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
• Alzheimer's
• Autism
• Sleeping Disorders
• Cancer
• Obesity

7. ADHD
• In a study in 2004 of 2500 children they found
that early exposure to television led to a
higher rate attentional disorders at 7 yearsold
that led to a diagnosis of ADHD
• 3%-7% of school aged children have ADHD
according to the CDC (Center for Disease
Control)

8. Alzheimers
• Because watching television is a “non-
intelectually stimulating activity” it is believed to
possibly be a contributing factor to Alzheimer’s
disease
• For every hour we watch daily in our middle years
our risk for Alzheimer’s increases
Lindstrom

9. Sleeping Disorders
• Thompson and Christakis (2005) found that
television viewing in infants and toddlers was
associated with irregular sleep patterns
• A study at Columbia University found that
adolescents who watch 3 hours of T.V. a day
had a higher risk of sleep problems

10. Cancer
• T.V. is believed to cause sleep problems which
lead to decreased levels of melatonin, a
powerful antioxidant
• Decreased melatonin leads to an increased
risk that cells will develop cancer causing
mutations

11. Obesity
• The link between Television watching and
obesity is fairly obvious
• Watching television requires us to sit inactive
thus we are not getting proper exercise and
we gain weight

12. Group Question
• How much TV do you watch a week?
• How much time on video or computer games?
• How much time using entertainment media
total?

13. bibliography
• American Academy of Pediatrics. AAP updates guidance to help
families make positive media choices. 10-13-2010
healthychildren.org
• CDC (center for disease control) ADHD data and statistics
december, 2011. web http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/data.html
• Christakis D A and Zimmerman F J (2006) Media as a Public Health
Issue. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine.
• Sigman, Aric “Visual Voodoo: the biological impact of watching TV”
aricsigman.com february 2007. web.
• Sylwester, robert. “the effects of electronic media on a developing
brain” i-a-e.org. web.
• Youtube.com