While the Korean medicine concept of the spirit might feel somewhat abstract, modern medicine shows that it connects with remarkable precision to the complex workings of our brain. The digital addiction that keeps us tied to a virtual world all night is more than just a habit; it acts as a powerful factor that disrupts the brain's core reward circuit.
When a smartphone notification sounds or we receive a reward in a game, a neurotransmitter called dopamine is released in the brain. Dopamine provides pleasant sensations of pleasure and reward, and digital content is designed to trigger its release quickly and powerfully. It functions much like our brain becoming hooked on the immediate gratification of a sweet reward. As the Donguibogam noted, when the spirit is agitated, the mind becomes confused. The more the brain is exposed to excessive dopamine stimulation, the more it loses its normal reward regulation and constantly craves stronger, more stimulating inputs. One becomes desensitized to the small pleasures of daily life, resulting in decreased reward sensitivity where pleasure is sought exclusively in the digital realm.
A bigger problem is sleep disruption. The blue light emitted from smartphones before falling asleep strongly suppresses the secretion of melatonin, the sleep-inducing hormone. When melatonin is insufficient, the natural sleep-wake cycle is disrupted, leading to insomnia where one cannot fall asleep late into the night. In addition, stimulating content keeps the brain in a persistent state of arousal, increasing sympathetic nerve activity and raising levels of the stress hormone cortisol. This exacerbates insomnia and can lead to chronic anxiety and depressive feelings. When our spirit cannot rest peacefully, the entire body remains in a sustained state of tension.
Over the long term, digital addiction also negatively affects the function of the frontal lobe. The frontal lobe is responsible for higher-order cognitive function such as impulse control, problem-solving, and decision-making. When continually exposed to external stimuli and accustomed only to immediate rewards, frontal lobe function declines, leading to reduced concentration and memory, difficulties with emotional regulation, and a weakened ability to set goals or solve problems in real life. It is like a ship captain becoming overly agitated, unable to look far ahead and scrambling only to manage the waves right in front of the vessel. These neurological changes can ultimately lead to reality avoidance, severed social relationships, and mental health issues, destabilizing the harmony of body and mind.
