Impact of Digital Technology on Human Health
Science & Technology
- PYQs5
- Articles1
Background
Understanding the societal and health implications of rapidly advancing technology is crucial for policy-making, public health initiatives, and addressing modern lifestyle diseases. It touches upon the balance between technological progress and human well-being.
Digital technologies, while offering numerous benefits, also present significant challenges to human health, particularly concerning cognitive function, mental well-being, and neurological health. Prolonged exposure to screens and the nature of digital engagement can alter brain pathways, disrupt natural physiological rhythms, and contribute to various health issues.
Facts & tables
- Brain Reward Pathways
- Excessive screen use can alter the brain's reward pathways, potentially leading to addictive behavior.
- Cognitive Engagement
- Heavy dependence on digital devices may reduce active cognitive engagement, fostering passive information reception.
- Melatonin Suppression
- Screen exposure, especially in the evening, suppresses melatonin production, disrupting the body's circadian rhythm.
- Brain Function Impairment
- This disruption can impair the brain's ability to repair itself, consolidate memories, and process information during sleep.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | Digital Health |
| Conceptual area | Cognitive Science |
| Conceptual area | Public Health |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis
Prelims angle: Conceptual understanding
- Excessive screen time alters brain reward pathways, potentially leading to addiction.
- Reduces active cognitive engagement, promoting passive information consumption.
- Evening screen exposure suppresses melatonin, disrupting circadian rhythm.
- Disrupts sleep, impairing brain repair and memory consolidation.
- Contributes to cognitive decline and neurological disorder risk.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding |
| 2025 | Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding |
| 2022 | Factual recall, Conceptual understanding |
| 2019 | Conceptual understanding, Multi-statement analysis |
| 2017 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
Timeline
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Digital Health
Conceptual area
-
Cognitive Science
Conceptual area
-
Public Health
Conceptual area
-
Prelims 2017
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2019
Conceptual understanding, Multi-statement analysis
-
Prelims 2022
Factual recall, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2025
Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2026
Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding
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Quality sleep key to protecting brain health amid rising screen time, say neurologists
Digital technology overuse, particularly screen time, negatively impacts brain health by altering reward pathways, reducing cognitive engagement, and disrupting sleep cycles through melatonin suppression, leading to cognitive decline and increased risk of neurological disorders.
See also
Past papers
2017–2026 · 2 questions
In the news
Quality sleep key to protecting brain health amid rising screen time, say neurologists
Digital technology overuse, particularly screen time, negatively impacts brain health by altering reward pathways, reducing cognitive engagement, and disrupting sleep cycles through melatonin suppression, leading to cognitive decline and increased risk of neurological disorders.
Try these PYQs
Which of the following statements about Real-World Assets (RWA) Tokenization are correct?
1. Tokenization is the process of turning real world assets into digital tokens using blockchain technology.
2. Tokenization of real world assets offers 24x7 access, promoting financial inclusion.
3. Tokenization of real world assets will allow the access to high growth investment opportunities for individuals in India.
Select the answer using the code given below:
Statement 1 is Correct: Real-World Asset (RWA) Tokenization is the process of converting the ownership rights of physical or traditional financial assets (such as real estate, gold, commodities, or bonds) into digital tokens on a distributed ledger or blockchain. Each token represents a proportional share or claim on the underlying asset. Statement 2 is Correct: Unlike traditional financial markets and real estate registries that have fixed operating hours, geographic limitations, and settlement delays, blockchain-based tokenized assets can be traded globally, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with near-instant settlement. Additionally, tokenization allows high-value, traditionally illiquid assets to be divided into smaller, affordable fractions. This lowers the barrier to entry, enabling retail investors and underserved populations to participate in wealth-building markets, thereby directly promoting financial inclusion. Statement 3 is Correct: In the Indian context, RWA tokenization democratizes access to high-growth, capital-intensive sectors (like commercial real estate, agricultural land, and infrastructure projects). Regulatory bodies like the IFSCA (in GIFT City) have already begun approving tokenization platforms under regulatory sandboxes to unlock these previously inaccessible investment opportunities for everyday Indian retail investors. Therefore, all three statements are correct, making the correct option A.
Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs) are used to create the digital display in many devices. What are the advantages of OLED displays over Liquid Crystal displays?
1. OLED displays can be fabricated on flexible plastic substrates.
2. Roll-up displays embedded in clothing can be made using OLEDs.
3. Transparent displays are possible using OLEDs.
Select the correct answer using the code given below
An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) is a light-emitting diode (LED) in which the emissive electroluminescent layer is a film of organic compound that emits light in response to an electric current. Statement 1 is correct: One of the key advantages of OLED technology is that the organic light-emitting materials can be deposited on flexible plastic or metal foil substrates, enabling the creation of flexible and foldable displays. Statement 2 is correct: The flexibility of OLED displays allows for the creation of roll-up or rollable displays, which can be integrated into clothing and other flexible surfaces. Statement 3 is correct: OLED display technology can be used to create transparent displays, where the light-emitting pixels can be made semi-transparent, allowing the display to be integrated into various surfaces and objects. Therefore, all three statements are correct.
Consider the following statements:
Statement I:
Some rare earth elements are used in the manufacture of flat television screens and computer monitors.
Statement II:
Some rare earth elements have phosphorescent properties.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
✅ Statement I: Correct
Rare earth elements like europium, terbium, and yttrium are essential in flat TV screens and monitors due to their role in producing vibrant colors and enhancing display quality. ✅ Statement II: Correct
These elements exhibit phosphorescence—absorbing energy and slowly emitting light—which is key to their use in color reproduction and brightness in displays. Relationship:
Statement II explains why rare earth elements are crucial in displays, confirming the reason behind Statement I. Therefore, both statements are correct and related.
Consider the following communication technologies:
1. Closed-circuit Television
2. Radio Frequency Identification
3. Wireless Local Area Network
Which of the above are considered Short-Range devices/technologies?
Out of the listed communication technologies, all three can be considered short-range devices/technologies. Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV): CCTV systems primarily use cables or wireless connections with a limited range, typically within a building or a designated area. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID): RFID uses radio waves to identify objects. The reading range of RFID tags depends on the specific technology but generally falls within the short-range category, from a few centimetres to a few meters. Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN): WLANs, commonly known as Wi-Fi networks, typically operate within a range of tens of meters indoors and up to hundreds of meters outdoors depending on factors like signal strength and frequency band. While the range might be slightly larger than the others on this list, WLANs still fall under the short-range classification compared to technologies like cellular networks or satellite communication.
With reference to communication technologies, what is/are the difference/differences between LTE (Long-Term Evolution) and VoLTE (Voice over Long-Term Evolution)?
1. LTE is commonly marketed as 3G and VoLTE is commonly marketed as advanced 3G.
2. LTE is data-only technology and VoLTE is voice-only technology.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Statement 1 is incorrect: LTE is actually marketed as 4G, not 3G. VoLTE is not marketed as advanced 3G, but rather as an advancement over 4G LTE, allowing for voice calls over the 4G network. Statement 2 is incorrect: LTE does primarily focus on providing high-speed data services, but it's not a data-only technology. VoLTE, on the other hand, is not a voice-only technology. It allows for voice calls to be made over the 4G LTE network, but it doesn't exclude data services. Therefore, both statements are incorrect.