Singapore study links early screen exposure to brain changes, anxiety, and slower decision-making
Screens have become an easy fix for calming restless babies, but new evidence suggests the habit may leave lasting marks on the developing brain. A landmark Singapore study now reveals how screen exposure in infancy can shape mental health outcomes years later, while also pointing to simple, powerful ways parents can reduce the risks.
A Decade-Long Look At Infant Screen Exposure
Singapore scientists have found that children exposed to high levels of screen time before the age of two show measurable changes in brain development linked to slower decision-making and higher anxiety during adolescence. The research, led by Assistant Professor Tan Ai Peng from A*STAR’s Institute for Human Development and Potential and the National University of Singapore, is the largest local birth cohort study to examine how early screen exposure affects long-term brain and mental health outcomes.
Inside The GUSTO Cohort Study
The study tracked 168 children from the Growing Up in Singapore Towards Healthy Outcomes cohort for over 10 years. Researchers conducted brain scans when the children were aged 4½, six, and 7½, allowing them to observe how brain networks evolved over time rather than relying on a single snapshot. The findings were published in eBioMedicine, a peer-reviewed open-access medical journal.
Accelerated Brain Maturation With Hidden Costs
Children with higher infant screen exposure showed accelerated maturation of brain networks involved in visual processing and cognitive control. While early brain maturation may sound beneficial, Dr Tan emphasized that this is not the case. Excessive visual stimulation during a sensitive developmental window can redirect brain resources, leading to altered development in other critical regions responsible for emotional regulation and flexible thinking.
From Brain Changes To Adolescent Anxiety
According to Dr Huang Pei, senior scientist at A*STAR’s IHDP and first author of the study, early screen exposure can limit flexibility and resilience later in life. The researchers found that children with altered brain networks took longer to make decisions during cognitive tasks at age 8½. By age 13, those slower decision-makers also reported higher levels of anxiety, especially when navigating new social environments.
Why Screens Fall Short For Infants
Videos may be visually appealing and attention-grabbing, but they lack key elements of healthy learning, such as touch, facial expressions, and back-and-forth interaction. During infancy, when the brain is learning from real-world experiences, excessive screen use can over-stimulate visual pathways while neglecting social and sensory development that comes from human interaction.
Reading And Shared Activities As A Protective Factor
Not all outcomes are bleak. An earlier 2024 study by the same team, published in Psychological Medicine, found that frequent parent-child reading from age three significantly weakened the link between early screen exposure and altered brain development. Dr Tan stressed that it is not just reading, but any shared, engaging activity, such as building LEGO sets, playing outdoors, or swimming together, that helps counteract the effects of screen time.
National Guidelines And Parental Responsibility
A Ministry of Digital Development and Information survey released on Sept 12 revealed that more than half of children aged two to six in Singapore spend over an hour daily on digital devices, rising to 81 percent on weekends. This exceeds the Ministry of Health’s recommended one-hour limit. Under a new national health strategy, MOH now advises that children under 18 months should not be exposed to screens at all, while encouraging parents to engage actively if screens are used.
The findings highlight that early screen habits can shape brain development and mental health well into adolescence, with implications extending beyond Singapore to families across Asia, including Indonesia. At the same time, the research underscores a hopeful message: consistent parental engagement and shared activities can significantly reduce the risks. As digital devices become ever more present in daily life, informed parenting choices remain one of the most powerful tools for protecting children’s long-term well-being.
Sources: Straits Times (2025) , The Star (2025)
Keywords: Infant Screen Time, Brain Development, Adolescent Anxiety, Parenting Practices, GUSTO Study
