Digital Health & Wellness
Learning Objectives
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1. Explain what overuse injuries are and how they can be prevented.
2. Describe some ways that constant access to technology can affect the developing brain. 3. Explain the correlation between dopamine levels and internet addiction. 4. Diagram the most ergonomically correct way to sit and work at a computer. |
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Digital Health & Wellness Overview
Digital Health and Wellness is defined by Ribble (2015) as physical and psychological well-being in a digital technology word. Overuse injuries can result from any repetitive activity. Using a computer or laptop stresses the same tendons repetitively. Frequently, work or school requires completion of computer based work so breaks cannot feasibly be taken. This can compound tendon irritation and inflammation. It is difficult to design a computer table and chair that provides the correct angle for usage especially for multiple users of various heights.
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In addition to the physical injuries that can result there is the risk of internet addiction. It has been scientifically documented that getting a "like" or response on a post causes a release of the neurotransmitter, dopamine, Dopamine is the same neurotransmitter that is released with other addictions such as alcohol use, drug use and smoking (Ribble, 2015).
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Connections to Digital Health & Wellness
Designers of online activities and games know that they can exploit compulsions and the release of dopamine to make their games more addictive to players. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Scans measure the release of dopamine from the brain as the user is actively playing the game. The game designers can see what activities or choices in the game cause the greatest release of dopamine and then design their games to take advantage of this physiological addicting effect. Game designers call these compulsion loops. Meaning that users get started and then cannot quit. Studies have shown that some gamers will sit in internet cafes and ignore hunger and other physical needs as they continue to play their game (Davidow, 2012). In a controlled study of young internet users dopamine levels were tracked during internet use. This study showed a significant (p<.001) association between elevated dopamine levels and internet use though the effect of dopamine is unclear. This association was significant enough that the length of internet use and dopamine levels were statistically correlated. Blood dopamine levels can be monitored for further research (Liu and Luo, 2015).
NPR Radio Broadcasts
When Parents Are The Ones Too Distracted By Devices
Date: April 16,2014 Length: 4:02
Summary: This is a story of a 12 year old and her addicted to technology father. He knew he had to decrease his cellphone use when his daughter said she was competing with the cellphone. Children are frustrated trying to get their parent's attention and parents are addicted to the technology because it taps into the dopamine reward pathway in the brain.
Link to Podcast and transcript
Information Overload and the Tricky Art of Single-Tasking
Date: February 11, 2016 Length: 4:02
Summary: Neuroscientist Levitin has a podcast called Note to Self. He hopes that be decluttering the brain creativity can be increased. He said that you cannot multitask, you can only rapidly shift from one activity to the next. The author describes her experience with trying to resist the pull of the cell phone and focus on what thing at a time.
Link to Podcast and transcript
References
Davidow, B. (2012, July 18). Exploiting the Neuroscience of Internet Addiction. Retrieved May 07, 2017, from
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/07/exploiting-the-neuroscience-of-internet-addiction/259820/
Information Overload And The Tricky Art Of Single-Tasking . (2016). NPR.org. Retrieved from
http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2016/02/11/466177618/information-overload-and-the-tricky-art-of-single-tasking
Liu, M., & Luo, J. (2015). Relationship between peripheral blood dopamine level and internet addiction disorder in adolescents: a pilot
study. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, 8(6), 9943–9948.
Ribble, M. (2015). Digital citizenship in schools: Nine elements all students should know. Eugene, OR: International Society for
Technology In Education.
When Parents Are The Ones Too Distracted By Devices. (2014). NPR.org. Retrieved from
http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2014/04/16/303749247/when-parents-are-the-ones-too-distracted-by-devices
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/07/exploiting-the-neuroscience-of-internet-addiction/259820/
Information Overload And The Tricky Art Of Single-Tasking . (2016). NPR.org. Retrieved from
http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2016/02/11/466177618/information-overload-and-the-tricky-art-of-single-tasking
Liu, M., & Luo, J. (2015). Relationship between peripheral blood dopamine level and internet addiction disorder in adolescents: a pilot
study. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, 8(6), 9943–9948.
Ribble, M. (2015). Digital citizenship in schools: Nine elements all students should know. Eugene, OR: International Society for
Technology In Education.
When Parents Are The Ones Too Distracted By Devices. (2014). NPR.org. Retrieved from
http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2014/04/16/303749247/when-parents-are-the-ones-too-distracted-by-devices
