Study: Short videos power down the brain's control network
alex_verem · x · 2026-08-19
Researchers at Zhejiang University used fMRI scans to show that watching short videos (like TikTok or Reels) significantly reduces activity in the brain's cognitive control network, which handles focus, effort, and self-regulation.
Key findings:
- When users watched a liked video to completion, control region activity dropped below resting baseline; skipping a video resulted in a smaller drop.
- Individual differences: People with higher baseline glutamate levels showed less power-down, keeping their control regions more active.
- Researchers clarified this isn't brain damage but a low-effort, immersive 'flow' state similar to films or games, though long-term effects on self-control remain a question.
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