It's easy to assume that playing computer games, watching movies, or using social media can be a nice, cost-effective way for a person to relax, and perhaps to even use them as a reward for a child that is doing well academically. However, there have been a number of scientific studies which show how these forms of "relaxation" are not just taking up a person's time, but also interfering with the brain's natural dopamine-reward systems.
Andrew Huberman, Ph.D., is a neuroscientist and tenured professor at Stanford School of Medicine, and he has posted a very enlightening video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmOF0crdyRU
It is quite technical and goes into how dopamine systems work in detail, but for the key takeaways I will liken our dopamine systems to how plants grow:
Plants will naturally grow towards where they detect a greater presence of sunlight, and our dopamine systems can be somewhat likened to plant growth, but instead of seeking out sunlight, our brains seek out dopamine-rewards. The easier those rewards are to get, and the faster we can get them, the more likely we will go back to those sources of easy rewards. Our thoughts can even end up being preoccupied by those activities, even when they are currently unavailable.
Everyone needs time to relax and time for hobbies unrelated to studying or working, but there is a danger in allowing hobby time to become consumed by technological distractions such as TV/social media/computer games. I've noticed personally that the students who perform the best academically, typically show greater interest in their classes and are more active in general. That level of motivation is not random, it comes from having well-balanced dopamine systems.
Take care and study hard!
Dean :)
It's easy to assume that playing computer games, watching movies, or using social media can be a nice, cost-effective way for a person to relax, and perhaps to even use them as a reward for a child that is doing well academically. However, there have been a number of scientific studies which show how these forms of "relaxation" are not just taking up a person's time, but also interfering with the brain's natural dopamine-reward systems.
Andrew Huberman, Ph.D., is a neuroscientist and tenured professor at Stanford School of Medicine, and he has posted a very enlightening video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmOF0crdyRU
It is quite technical and goes into how dopamine systems work in detail, but for the key takeaways I will liken our dopamine systems to how plants grow:
Plants will naturally grow towards where they detect a greater presence of sunlight, and our dopamine systems can be somewhat likened to plant growth, but instead of seeking out sunlight, our brains seek out dopamine-rewards. The easier those rewards are to get, and the faster we can get them, the more likely we will go back to those sources of easy rewards. Our thoughts can even end up being preoccupied by those activities, even when they are currently unavailable.
Everyone needs time to relax and time for hobbies unrelated to studying or working, but there is a danger in allowing hobby time to become consumed by technological distractions such as TV/social media/computer games. I've noticed personally that the students who perform the best academically, typically show greater interest in their classes and are more active in general. That level of motivation is not random, it comes from having well-balanced dopamine systems.
Take care and study hard!
Dean :)