Assessment of psychophysiological functions of the central nervous system in Buryat children with excessive smartphone use

BACKGROUND: Mobile devices have become an integral part of the environment of modern children. However, digital content is evolving more rapidly than scientific research on its impact on children’s health.

AIM: To assess changes in the psychophysiological responses of the central nervous system in Buryat children associated with increased use of mobile electronic devices.

METHODS: A two-stage examination was conducted in 262 schoolchildren of Buryat ethnicity (Group 1: 149 children examined in 2016; Group 2: 113 children examined in 2024). Psychophysiological functions of the central nervous system were assessed using the simple visual-motor reaction test and the tapping test.

RESULTS: The evaluation of the autonomic status of the examined children indicated the development of sleep disturbances in 44.2±4.7% of children in Group 2, paroxysmal headaches in 39.8±4.6%, and increased fatigue in 33.6±4.4% of cases. The above autonomic symptoms were accompanied by a decline in the functional capacities of the central nervous system. In Group 2, compared to Group 1, fewer children exhibited high speed of information synthesis and analysis (<189 ms), high stability of sensorimotor responses (<33 ms), greater visual-motor reaction accuracy and, accordingly, fewer premature responses, as well as a high level of central nervous system functional capacity (starting from 3.8 arbitrary units). At the same time, the moderately weak type of nervous system—characterized by low mobility of nervous processes, a tendency toward rapid fatigue, inertia in the formation of conditioned reflexes, and an increased number of erroneous responses—was less common in Group 1 than in Group 2. The listed psychophysiological characteristics of the central nervous system objectively reflect the adverse impact of modern mobile devices on the health of children living in rural areas.

CONCLUSION: To reduce the health risks posed to children by the digital environment, it is essential to develop their skills for the safe use of mobile digital devices.