Emerging new evidence suggests that excessive exposure to screens during infancy may have enduring consequences for brain development and mental health. A recent study led by professors of A*STAR Institute for Human Development and Potential (IHDP) and the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore investigated this association using data from the Growing Up in Singapore Towards Healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) birth cohort. Published in eBioMedicine, this work is notable for its extended follow-up period, spanning more than a decade, and for integrating neuroimaging data collected at multiple developmental stages.
The researchers demonstrated that higher levels of screen exposure before the age of two were associated with measurable alterations in brain network development, which were subsequently linked to slower cognitive decision-making and increased anxiety symptoms during adolescence. To date, this represents the first screen-time study to map a potential neurobiological pathway from infancy through the teenage years using repeated brain imaging, underscoring the possibility of long-lasting effects of early environmental exposures.
Infancy is a critical window for neurodevelopment, characterized by rapid synaptic growth and heightened sensitivity to environmental inputs. During this period, exposure to screens is largely governed by parental and caregiver practices, making it a key target for early preventive guidance and public health intervention.
Why the First Two Years Are a Sensitive Period
In this study, 168 children from the GUSTO cohort1 underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging at three time points—approximately 4.5, 6, and 7.5 years of age—allowing the investigators to assess developmental trajectories of brain networks rather than relying on cross-sectional observations. Children who experienced higher levels of screen exposure during infancy exhibited accelerated maturation of neural networks involved in visual processing and cognitive control.
The authors hypothesize that this pattern reflects heightened sensory stimulation from screens during a time when neural systems are still organizing. Importantly, similar associations were not observed when screen exposure was measured at ages three and four, reinforcing the concept that the first two years of life represent a uniquely vulnerable developmental stage.
According to the study’s first author accelerated neural maturation is not necessarily beneficial. Under typical developmental conditions, brain networks become progressively specialized while simultaneously strengthening long-range, integrative connections. Premature specialization—potentially driven by excessive early stimulation—may occur before these efficient connections are established, resulting in reduced cognitive flexibility and adaptive capacity later in life.2
Consistent with this hypothesis, children demonstrating these altered brain network patterns showed slower reaction times during a cognitive decision-making task at 8.5 years of age. Furthermore, slower cognitive processing was associated with higher self-reported anxiety symptoms by early adolescence (around 13 years). Collectively, these findings suggest that early screen exposure may influence neurodevelopmental pathways with behavioural and emotional implications extending well beyond early childhood.
Protective Role of Parent–Child Reading
Complementary findings from the same research group, published in Psychological Medicine in 2024, indicate that the negative neurodevelopmental associations of infant screen exposure may be partially mitigated by positive parent–child interactions. This related analysis demonstrated that early screen exposure was also linked to alterations in brain networks involved in emotional regulation. However, among children whose parents engaged in frequent shared reading activities around the age of three, these associations were significantly attenuated.
Shared reading is thought to provide a rich, interactive environment that contrasts with the largely passive nature of screen viewing. It promotes reciprocal communication, language development, attentional engagement, and emotional bonding—factors known to support healthy brain maturation. As noted these findings offer a biological rationale for current screen-time recommendations while simultaneously emphasizing that active parental engagement can play a meaningful protective role.3
Implications for Policy and Parenting
Conducted in collaboration with clinicians and researchers from the National University Hospital, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, and McGill University, these studies provide robust longitudinal evidence supporting early-life screen-time guidance. The findings reinforce the importance of minimizing screen exposure during the first two years of life while encouraging enriching parent–child activities, such as shared reading, to support optimal neurodevelopment.
From a public health perspective, this work contributes to the growing evidence base informing early childhood policies and aligns with Singapore’s broader strategy to enhance human potential from the earliest stages of development.
References
- Soh SE, Tint MT, et al. The Growing Up in Singapore Towards Healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) cohort stud. International Journal of Epidemiology.
- Huang P, Tan AP, et al. Infant screen exposure, brain network maturation, and long-term cognitive and emotional outcomes: Evidence from the GUSTO cohort. eBioMedicine.
- Tan AP, Huang P, et al. Parent–child reading moderates associations between infant screen time and brain networks related to emotional regulation. Psychological Medicine. 2024.
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