Heiko K. Strüder

OBJECTIVE: Television and computer game consumption are a powerful influence in the lives of most children. Previous evidence has supported the notion that media exposure could impair a variety of behavioral characteristics. Excessive television viewing and computer game playing have been associated with many psychiatric symptoms, especially emotional and behavioral symptoms, somatic complaints, attention problems such as hyperactivity, and family interaction problems. Nevertheless, there is insufficient knowledge about the relationship between singular excessive media consumption on sleep patterns and linked implications on children. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of singular excessive television and computer game consumption on sleep patterns and memory performance of children. METHODS: Eleven school-aged children were recruited for this polysomnographic study. Children were exposed to voluntary excessive television and computer game consumption. In the subsequent night, polysomnographic measurements were conducted to measure sleep-architecture and sleep-continuity parameters. In addition, a visual and verbal memory test was conducted before media stimulation and after the subsequent sleeping period to determine visuospatial and verbal memory performance. RESULTS: Only computer game playing resulted in significant reduced amounts of slow-wave sleep as well as significant declines in verbal memory performance. Prolonged sleep-onset latency and more stage 2 sleep were also detected after previous computer game consumption. No effects on rapid eye movement sleep were observed. Television viewing reduced sleep efficiency significantly but did not affect sleep patterns. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that television and computer game exposure affect children's sleep and deteriorate verbal cognitive performance, which supports the hypothesis of the negative influence of media consumption on children's sleep, learning, and memory.

As shown in the first part of this review, well equilibrated neurotransmission in which 5-HT plays a dominant role is important for proper neuromodulation and adjustment of neuronal network elements. Adequate 5-HT system function supports regulation of intercommunicative neuronal transmission in the brain, which optimizes behavioral neuromodulation during and after different forms of exertions, thereby preventing transient dysregulation. Impairment of neuromodulation and neuronal network in the brain with transient dysfunctions or permanent substantial deficits at manifestation of various types of depression results from prevalent impairment of 5-HT neurotransmission and its central interaction with other neurotransmitter systems. Exercise-induced increase of free tryptophan (TRP) in blood occurs due to liberation from albumin, which is caused by adrenergically induced lipolysis of free fatty acids and results in higher free TRP uptake into the brain. Consecutively enhanced serotonin (5-HT) biosynthesis does not per se initiate mood impairment or central fatigue. It is suggested that in overtrained athletes central fatigue, mental deficiency and behavioral alterations with depressive mood are probably not primarily caused by metabolic and neuromuscular alterations. The primary trigger of these transient behavioural alterations might instead be initiated by a central exhaustive exercise stress which elicits impairment of complex neuromodulation, also afflicting the interaction of central neurotransmitters or hypothalamic neuropeptides and releasing factors. In a consecutive correction of the variation, the implication of the serotonergic system on the central neuromodular disturbance might improve or prevent the progressive course both in transient and in permanent mental disorders. However, an unsuccessful attempt to improve the depressive symptomatology leads mostly to an overproportional exaggeration of the behavioral changes.