People who are constantly checking their phone, social media or are watching cat and bunny videos may be suffering from serious addiction, a new study suggests.

Axar.az reports citing Sputnik.

Smartphone addiction harms mental health especially in teenagers, according to a new research by scientists from the Korean University in Seoul, South Korea.

Dr. Hyung Suk Seo has warned that there's more danger in this addiction than just the potential wastage of time sharing memes and viral videos.

Dr. Seo and the team worked with 19 adolescents aged 15.5 years old, on average comprising nine males and 10 females who had been previously diagnosed with smart phone or Internet addiction.

The participants' brains were studied using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), cognitive behavioral therapy and standardized tests to evaluate how the addiction was affecting their social life, sleep patterns and mental health.

According to Medical News Today, “GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that interacts with neural synapses, slowing down signaling between brain cells. GABA balances out the effect of Glx, which is an excitatory neurotransmitter that speeds up electric signaling in the brain.”

Dr. Seo explained that the ratios of these neurotransmitters are linked to the severity of smartphone and Internet addiction, as well as with the development of anxiety and depression.
However, this idea is yet to be confirmed by further clinical studies.

In the meantime, the study highlights the importance of not becoming addicted to technology and living a healthier lifestyle.