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Science

Facebook could affect the brain in similar way to cocaine

 

 

Facebook can have similar effects on the brain to cocaine addiction, a study has found. A total of 20 undergraduates were asked to fill in a questionnaire that assessed ‘addiction-like’ symptoms relating to Facebook, such as anxiety, withdrawal and conflict relating to the website. Students were then shown a series of images, and asked to press, or not press, a button. Rese Students who pushed the button in response to Facebook-related images such as the Facebook logo were the same ones who scored highly in the addiction-like symptoms test, according to the study published in Psychological . Resarchers used brain imaging to monitor their brain activity while they did this. Brain imaging revealed that images relating to Facebook activated the amygdala and striatum – the brain regions involved in compulsive behaviour.  These brain patterns were similar to those in people addicted to cocaine.