Licinio Review Warns Screen Time May Alter Children's Brains Through Age 25
Updated
Updated · CNN · Jun 4
Licinio Review Warns Screen Time May Alter Children's Brains Through Age 25
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Jun 4
Summary
A paper published Tuesday in Brain Health argues experiences from birth to age 25 can leave lasting, sometimes irreversible marks on brain development, raising concerns about heavy childhood screen use.
Dr. Julio Licinio and coauthors call that developmental window the “criticome,” saying sensory input, movement, social interaction, culture and environment help shape lifelong abilities and vulnerabilities.
The review does not prove exactly how screens change young brains, but Licinio and outside psychologist Melissa Greenberg say fast-paced, highly stimulating devices can displace play, exercise and face-to-face interaction.
Those lost activities matter because childhood is when neural foundations for language, music, socialization and motor skills are built most effectively; the paper argues many capacities are harder to develop later.
The review adds to broader warnings on youth screen exposure, including a recent US Surgeon General advisory linking heavier screen time to physical, mental, behavioral and academic problems.
Is all screen time bad, or are children developing new skills we fail to see?
Should tech companies be forced to make their products less addictive for children?
The Criticome Framework: How Early Experiences and Screen Time Shape Lifelong Brain Development
Overview
This report introduces the 'criticome' framework, a new way to understand brain development by focusing on the totality of sensory, motor, social, cultural, and environmental experiences that shape the brain from before birth to about 25 years old. It highlights how experiences during this critical period are fundamental for forming adult cognition and mental health, and that what is missed or misintegrated cannot be easily corrected later. The report explores how early and excessive screen time can disrupt brain network development, leading to issues like reduced cognitive flexibility and increased anxiety, and emphasizes the importance of real-world experiences for healthy brain development.