What is brain rot? The science behind what obsessive movement does to our brains

Oxford University Press has chosen “brain rot” as the word of the year.

The word is defined as “alleged deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially seen as a result of overconsumption of material (now especially Internet content) considered to be irrelevant or unchallenging. Also: something characterized as possible lead to such deterioration.”

Some experts believe that the constant and endless scrolling of social media and other online content is doing just that – rotting our brains.

Behavioral neuroscientist Dr. Kyra Bobinet, author of The Unstoppable Brain, told Fox News Digital that there is a growing awareness of brain decay and its consequences.

“It’s in the zeitgeist that people have trouble with their attention span. They feel brain fog, they [have] less concentration… They can’t do deep work,” California-based Bobinet said.

“And then there’s also this epidemic of loneliness that’s kind of been sitting at the bottom of that because we can’t focus on anything, including building relationships.”

Stuck on a roll

A certain part of the brain, called the habenula, is responsible for getting stuck in endless motion, according to Bobinet.

The habenula is a central part of the brain that is involved in various important functions, including motivation and decision making. But when activated, this area can “kill our motivation to try,” she noted.

“It’s heartbreaking when you know you should be doing something, and instead you do this other thing, like the ‘punishment move,'” she said.

Scrolling through social media is also a way to “disconnect” and give your brain a break after a long day, Bobinet said. This is an “avoidance behavior,” which the habenula controls.

“Whenever you’re avoiding something, you know that this area of ​​the brain is on,” she said.

This is how social media addictions can form, Bobinet warned, as this part of the brain can make it “very painful” to stop moving.

This can result in a “dangerous” loss of motivation, the neuroscientist warned.

“We all need motivation to live our lives and feel proud of ourselves and feel confident and get what we want,” she told Fox News Digital.

How to avoid brain rot

There is no single solution to avoid brain rot, according to Bobinet.

The key is learning what works best for the individual, she said, which involves “improving and changing and adapting as you go,” she said.

“People are very resilient,” she added. “Once we know the truth about our body, then we can do something about it.”

Dr. Don Grant, national health device management consultant at Newport Healthcare in Los Angeles, called on device manufacturers and content producers to keep users connected to their devices.

“They’re very smart, these creators who created these algorithms, and they also use our limbic system — the same thing [way] the people who created the slot machines did,” he told Fox News Digital. “Pull the handle … You never know what you’re going to get.”

Grant said he is concerned about “the death of certain things,” including the imagination.

“We don’t have to imagine anything anymore,” he said. “We get our gear every time. I am concerned about memory. I am concerned about education.”

Grant said he often hears from kids that they spend eight hours each night scrolling and watching videos, which “disrupts their sleep hygiene.”

“And I say, ‘OK, can you show me a video that you remember?’ I have yet to have a child who is able to remember everything he has seen.”

“Our brain matter is diminishing, our memories are diminishing [and] Our attention spans are shrinking,” Grant warned.

The expert offered some advice to avoid getting stuck in a “reel of doom” with “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.

“Maybe call a friend or FaceTime your grandma for the holidays,” he suggested.

Grant also urges people to be more strategic about spending time online, dividing it into 80% “meaningful, legitimate” content and 20% entertainment.

“For digital hygiene and wellness, you can set boundaries, you can block access,” Grant said. “Set technology-free times and zones in your home, especially for families.”

“Get outside, move a muscle … play memory games, intellectually challenging or educational games.”

The expert also encourages people to ask themselves some questions after the move to help measure the quality of time spent.

These might include: “Can you tell me how long you’ve been online? Did you spend more time than you wanted to? Did you feel better?”

Grant added, “There’s a perceived risk of virtual life and how we’re spending our free time — at the end of it, do you really feel good about yourself?”