Children who spent a lot of time on screens before the age of two showed changes in brain development that were later linked to slower decision-making and higher anxiety during their teenage years, according to new research from Singapore.
The study, led by Assistant Professor Tan Ai Peng and her team from A*STAR's Institute for Human Development and Potential and the National University of Singapore, used data from the long-running Growing Up in Singapore Towards Healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) study.
Published in eBioMedicine, the research followed 168 children for over ten years and carried out brain scans when they were 4.5, 6, and 7.5 years old. This allowed them to see how brain networks developed over time rather than relying on a single scan.
Children who had more screen exposure as infants showed faster development in brain areas linked to visual processing and self-control. The researchers believe this may be due to the strong sensory stimulation provided by screens. Screen time at ages three and four did not show the same effects, suggesting that the first two years of life are especially sensitive.
"Accelerated maturation happens when certain brain networks develop too fast, often in response to adversity or other stimuli," explained Dr. Huang Pei, the study's first author.
"During normal development, brain networks gradually become more specialized over time. However, in children with high screen exposure, the networks controlling vision and cognition specialized faster, before they had developed the efficient connections needed for complex thinking. This can limit flexibility and resilience, leaving the child less able to adapt later in life."
The researchers believe that these findings could help parents and the government with early childhood policies, supporting efforts in Singapore to promote healthy development from a very young age.
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