Fact check: can T.V. really rot your brain?

Posted: September 26, 2012

Can T.V. rot your brain?

The Accusation:  Watching television will ‘rot’ your brain.

The Case: “Don’t you know that television rots your brain?! Turn that thing off and go outside!”.

Ahh the statement that so many of us as teenagers have heard from our parents just as we were starting to watch our favorite T.V. show.

As a typical child growing up in America, the most recent data from the Nielsen Company has shown that you probably spend on average 28 hours a week in front of the T.V.

How do you spend those 28 hours? That is the question.

A study conducted by Matthew Gentzkow and Jesse M. Shapiro of the University of Chicago published in 2006 investigated the effects of Television on youth when it was first introduced in the 1940’s and 1950’s.

In contrast to the previous study, this one found that television had a positive effect on the academic performance of children exposed to T.V. as preschoolers. As well as stating:

“Our findings also suggest that much of the recent correlational evidence attributing negative developmental effects to childhood television viewing may require re-evaluation.”

In another study conducted by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), results showed that watching Spongebob (defined in the study as a fast paced cartoon) causes temporary attention and learning problems in 4-year-old children.

Hold on a second, we’re not 4-year-olds and not all of us watch Spongebob!

That’s a valid statement, however what this study shows is that some types of television shows, in this case, a “fast paced cartoon”, can impair different sections of a developing brain. As teenagers, our brains are still developing and growing.

As you can see, researchers and scientists are debating and always coming out with new reasons why watching T.V. is neither beneficial or harmful.

Television generally allows you to be better informed about the world around you, but, watching too much can lead to poor exercise and dietary habits and often encourage a sedentary lifestyle.

Bottom line, keep it in moderation and be aware of what type of programs you’re watching and/or letting your children watch.

Television is a powerful tool, you have to be careful how you use it.

The Verdict: There is no conclusive evidence to support the argument that television will ‘rot’ or cause damage to your brain; except in the situation of infants and toddlers who are overexposed. However in the case of content, be smart about what you watch.

You may also like…

PWHL Minnesota season in review

From underdogs to champions, PWHL Minnesota had a whirlwind of a season As the last buzzer sounded, Minnesota’s gloves and helmets went flying. Only this time, it was for real.  Game four of the PWHL finals went into two overtime periods before Minnesota's Sophie...

Timberwolves end dramatic season

This year, the “Let’s go Wolves” chant really meant something A “Let’s go Wolves” chant serenaded Target Center as the final buzzer of the best Timberwolves’ season in the last 20 years rang out. On Thursday night, the Wolves lost Game 5 of the Western Conference...

Churches Pushing Assimilation

In 1493, following Columbus’ arrival in the New World, the Doctrine of Discovery changed the scope of European involvement in the Americas for centuries. Signed by Pope Alexander VI, this Doctrine permitted Europeans, the Portuguese and Spanish in particular, to claim...

Track and field record-breakers

Click the photo below to view a galleryAthletes smash school records! (This story has been updated to include end-of-season records.) It’s been yet another record-breaking season for the Minnehaha track and...

Are high-school grades accurate?

How grade inflation is affecting the current generation of students In the education system, grades are everything to a student… or are they? They often are used to help others rank your work ethic and mentality. However, these numbers are starting to steer far off...