Digital multitasking is not productivity, it damages brain, says neurosurgen

Have you ever unlocked your phone to check a quick message, only to stare at the screen moments later wondering what you originally intended to do? Or perhaps you have read a short article, only to realise seconds after finishing that you cannot recall a single paragraph? These frustrating everyday lapses are increasingly common, but they may not be a sign of failing memory at all.

The culprit
In many cases, the true culprit is sitting right in the palm of your hand. A single ping pops up, pulling your gaze away from your work. While clearing that notification, another alert draws you into a short video, and five minutes of quick browsing seamlessly morphs into half an hour of mindless scrolling. By the time you finally set the device down, the original task you were handling has completely vanished from your mind.

Attention is the first step to forming memories
Your brain does not automatically store every piece of information it encounters. For an experience or detail to register into lasting memory, it requires undivided focus. Key structures within the brain, such as the hippocampus, play an essential role in processing this focused awareness into structured memories. When your concentration is constantly shattered by digital alerts, new information fails to encode properly. You simply cannot recall what you never truly paid attention to in the first place.

The myth of digital multitasking
Many people pride themselves on their ability to reply to messages, browse social feeds, and complete work duties simultaneously, viewing it as a badge of productivity. However, cognitive science shows that the human brain rarely processes multiple attention-heavy tasks at once. Instead, it rapidly toggles back and forth between activities—a process known as task switching. This relentless switching depletes mental energy, lowers work quality, increases errors, and severely impairs your ability to absorb and retain information.

Does mobile phone use cause dementia?
It is vital to clear up a widespread misconception: there is currently no scientific proof that heavy smartphone use causes Alzheimer's disease or dementia. Nevertheless, constant notifications, habitual distractions, and the sleep disruption associated with late-night screen time can significantly hamper your daily attention span and mental agility. That said, progressive or severe memory decline should never be brushed aside merely as screen fatigue without seeking medical advice.

Are you forgetting, or just not paying attention?
Mobile devices were created to simplify our lives, yet they now frequently hijack our time and cognitive focus. Before worrying about serious memory impairment, ask yourself a simple question: are you genuinely losing your memory, or are you simply failing to give any single task your full attention? Memory requires focus, and focus demands setting clear boundaries against unnecessary distractions. How many times today have you picked up your phone without any real reason?
(Dr Arun Oommen is a consultant neurosurgeon at the VPS Lakeshore Hospital, Kochi)