Past studies have already been applied to test the links between things like video games and their affect on motor skills, but most recently studies have started to look into the smartphone touch screens alter brain activity as well. The research was done in Switzerland and looked into how the brain adapted to the frequent use of fingertips on smart phone screens.

The neuroscientists involved in the study used electroencephalography or (EEG) to see how the brain responded to how people’s fingers worked on smart phones as opposed to how they worked on phones that do not have a touch screen.

Their results showed that people who use smartphones have more brain activity in the cortex of the brain. The cortex of the brain is the area that is associated with the thumb and index fingers. The cortex of the brain seemed to show more activity in the area related to the use of thumbs in direct relation to how much time they spent on their phone, whether the thumb were actually being used in the process or not.

This is similar to the findings that show that violin players have larger areas in the brain associated with the fingers. The researchers have therefore concluded that how the brain processes sensory changes is always being altered by the way we use digital technology.

Recent surveys suggest that over half of all cell phones used these days are smart phones in Japan, and user are increasing in the U.S. by millions each year.

Other recent smart phone studies have linked their use to sleep disruption in the immediate and over the longterm. Studies found that in comparison to people who read normal books before bed, participants who read off tablets before bed had lower levels of melatonin which generally help to induce sleep. This can make it more difficult to fall asleep, and it can also make sleep less likely to hit the REM levels that are required for restoration.

Those findings hold true across cell phones, tablets, laptops, and e-readers, but not Kindle’s which do not emit light. In the short term of course this can lead to general tiredness and groggy feelings, but it has long term consequences as well. Over the long term reduced levels of melatonin can increase the risk of cancers, and lack of sleep over the long term has been linked with diabetes and obesity.

The risks involved might be even higher for younger people in the age range of about 15 to 17 when sleep is significantly important. This age range is also more likely to use electronics before bed than younger aged children.

Smart phone use is only going up, and the supplying companies are regularly updating their options. In the new year, released smart phones are expected to be larger with more flexible design options. Many smart phones are expected with a more clear screen called 4K, which is comparable to an ultra HD option. This will mean less loss of clarity quality compared to TV when watching television shows and movies, and will increasingly make smart phones an appealing choice for browsing the internet.