Our seminar for parents, held in partnership with the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust, explored issues around technology and the mental health of children and teenagers. The aim of our seminar was to bring together parents with experts in neuroscience, parenting, mental health and the impact of technology on all of these areas. We shared ideas and experiences, learned from pioneering work in the field and will continue with similar events to ensure that provide the best possible environment in which pupils may thrive.

1. Dr Dean Burnett

2. Birth 6 yrs 14 yrs
Synaptogenesis & Pruning

4. Nucleus Accumbens
One end of the ‘reward pathway’, this
region, amongst other things,
determines whether something we’ve
experienced warrants a reward, a feeling
of pleasure
Ventral Tegmental Area
The other end of the reward pathway,
the bit which releases the relevant
pleasure-inducing dopamine when the
nucleus accumbens says ‘yes, this is
good, we like this’.

5. • Chaotic Hormone development further
disrupting the circadian rhythms and
associated regulatory systems
• Societal demands at odds with their
needs (“Don’t be lazy!” “Get a job!”
“You need to study!” etc.)
• Uneven brain maturation means
novelty seeking, socialisation and
emotional salience are stronger than
they ‘should’ be

6. • Blue wavelength light shown to more
effectively suppress melatonin, the
‘sleep hormone’
• Stimulation and novelty keeps brain
‘active’, delays rest and slow-down
• Convenience means harder to ignore
them, particularly for teens
A lot of focus these days is on how technology and devices disturb sleep. A
lot of it is scaremongering, but not all of it

7. Exact purpose of sleep still not known, but
definitely essential
• Allows integration and ‘reinforcement’ of brain
connections and systems (maintenance)
• Bodily rest and repair
• Mood and cognitive functioning

8. • Internet – Instant access and
communication means important
skills/behaviours aren’t acquired?
• Social networks – Like refined sugar
for the brain’s social mechanisms?
Empathy and theory of mind
development a key facet here.
• Pornography and sexual material –
easy to access, more extreme than
anyone would like. Not always a bad
thing, though?

9. Anxiety, be it clinical or more generic, keeps a
brain active and contemplative, in stressful
ways, disrupting sleep and causing more anxiety,
and the cycle continues, especially for
teenagers

10. A prominent source of anxiety for teenagers
• Lack of sleep has considerable cognitive effects,
notably on;
• Attention and focus
• Short term ‘working’ memory
• Long term memory
• Decision making skills
• All key faculties for academic achievement, and
self-sustaining for anxiety and stress

11. SOME BASIC PRINCIPLES
From the National Sleep Foundation
• Limited naps (<30 mins)
• Exercise, even if just 10 mins (timing it is
important)
• No late stimulants
• Set bedtimes and routines
• Natural light
• Nice environment
• Try to limit ‘device’ use

12. • The ‘natural’ chemical hormone that
controls our circadian rhythms
• Easily available, relatively cheap,
safe
• Moderately effective, studies reveal
it;
• Reduces time taken to fall asleep when
lights go out
• Limits sleep phase syndrome (where sleep
is delayed by 2 or more hours beyond the
socially acceptable or conventional
bedtime)
• Efficacy will vary between
individuals

13. The Happy Brain
Out now
The Idiot Brain
Out now
Deanburnett.com
@garwboy