Digital Universe, Neuroscience and Mental Health: Neuropsychological impacts of hyperconnectivity in contemporary society
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v15i5.51065Keywords:
Digital Health, Mental Health, Neuroscience, Behavioral Control, Applied Psychology.Abstract
Digital hyperconnectivity has emerged as a central phenomenon in contemporary society, producing significant impacts on neuropsychological, emotional, and behavioral domains. This study aimed to analyze, in light of evidence from psychology and neuroscience, the effects of digital hyperconnectivity on mental health, with emphasis on brain reward mechanisms, executive functions, and psychosocial outcomes across the lifespan. This is a qualitative investigation with an exploratory and analytical approach, based on an integrative literature review of studies published in international scientific databases between 2020 and 2025. A total of 21 scientific publications were included and organized into thematic axes related to neurocognitive effects, mental health, digital usage patterns, and risk and protective factors. The findings indicate that intensive and unregulated use of digital technologies is associated with activation of neural reward circuits, impaired inhibitory control, attentional deficits, and increased vulnerability to symptoms of anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances. Furthermore, the impacts of hyperconnectivity vary according to age group, being more pronounced in adolescents, who exhibit greater impulsivity and susceptibility to social influences, whereas adults and older individuals present distinct patterns related to cognitive overload and social isolation. It is concluded that digital hyperconnectivity is a multifactorial phenomenon that requires integrated prevention and intervention strategies, including digital education, strengthening of self-regulation, and the development of public policies aimed at promoting mental health in digital environments.
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). American Psychiatric Publishing.
Andreassen, C. S., Torsheim, T., Brunborg, G. S., & Pallesen, S. (2016). The relationship between addictive use of social media and psychiatric symptoms. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 30(2), 252–262.
Billieux, J., Maurage, P., Lopez-Fernandez, O., Kuss, D. J., & Griffiths, M. D. (2012). Problematic use of the mobile phone: A literature review and a pathways model. Current Psychiatry Reviews, 8(4), 299–307.
Brand, M., Wegmann, E., Stark, R., Müller, A., Wölfling, K., Robbins, T. W., & Potenza, M. N. (2019). The interaction of person-affect-cognition-execution (I-PACE) model for addictive behaviors: Update and extensions. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 104, 1–10.
Diamond, A. (2013). Executive functions. Annual Review of Psychology, 64, 135–168.
Elhai, J. D., Dvorak, R. D., Levine, J. C., & Hall, B. J. (2017). Problematic smartphone use: A conceptual overview and systematic review. Journal of Affective Disorders, 207, 251–259.
Global Kids Online. (2019). Global Kids Online Brazil: Pesquisa sobre o uso da internet por crianças e adolescentes no Brasil. London School of Economics and Political Science.
Griffiths, M. D. (2005). A “components” model of addiction within a biopsychosocial framework. Journal of Substance Use, 10(4), 191–197.
Hayixibayi, A., et al. (2021). Associations between problematic internet use and school engagement. Children and Youth Services Review, 122, 105–115.
Kardefelt-Winther, D. (2014). A conceptual and methodological critique of internet addiction research. Computers in Human Behavior, 31, 351–354.
Livingstone, S., Mascheroni, G., & Staksrud, E. (2017). Maximizing opportunities and minimizing risks for children online. Journal of Communication, 67(1), 82–105.
Luo, T., et al. (2022). Problematic internet use and DSM-5 criteria: Clinical validation. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 11(3), 678–689.
Murray, M. E., et al. (2011). Neuropathological assessment of cognitive decline. Brain, 134(2), 347–361.
Odgers, C. L., & Jensen, M. R. (2020). Annual research review: Adolescent mental health in the digital age. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 61(3), 336–348.
Ophir, E., Nass, C., & Wagner, A. D. (2009). Cognitive control in media multitaskers. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 106(37), 15583–15587.
Page, M. J. et al. (2022). The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. Rev Panam Salud Publica. 46:e112. doi: 10.26633/RPSP.2022.112.
Pereira, A. S. et al. (2018). Metodologia da pesquisa científica. [free ebook]. Santa Maria. Editora da UFSM.
Risemberg, R. I. C., Wakin, M. & Shitsuka, R. (2026). A importância da metodologia científica no desenvolvimento de artigos científicos. Revista E-Acadêmica. 7(1), e0171675. https://doi.org/10.52076/eacad-v7i1.675.
Rosen, L. D., et al. (2013). The distracted student: Educational impact of media multitasking. Computers in Human Behavior, 29(3), 948–958.
Shaw, M., & Black, D. W. (2008). Internet addiction: Definition, assessment, epidemiology and clinical management. CNS Drugs, 22(5), 353–365.
Snyder, H. (2019). Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines. Journal of Business Research, Elsevier. 104(C), 333-9. Doi: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.07.039.
Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria. (2019). Manual de orientação: Uso saudável de telas, tecnologias e mídias nas crianças e adolescentes. SBP.
Stockwell, S., et al. (2021). Digital inclusion and older adults: A systematic review. Ageing & Society, 41(3), 1–28.
Twenge, J. M., et al. (2018). Increases in depressive symptoms, suicide-related outcomes, and suicide rates among adolescents. Clinical Psychological Science, 6(1), 3–17.
World Health Organization. (2019). International classification of diseases for mortality and morbidity statistics (11th revision). WHO.
World Health Organization. (2021). Guidelines on mental health and digital environments. WHO.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Weber de Santana Teles, Max Cruz da Silva, Lorena Eugênia Rosa Coelho, Ana Paula Barreto Prata Silva, Ádamo Newton Marinho Andrade, Douglas Abilio, Ângela Maria Melo Sa Barros, Orleane Souza Rezende, Fernanda Kelly Fraga Oliveira, Raphael Davisson Lopes Santos
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
1) Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
2) Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
3) Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
