Early television exposure and subsequent attention problems in children.

Abstract

The study by Christakis et al,1 relating the amount of children’s television exposure at ages 1 and 3 years to later attention problems, is important and long overdue. Their systematic approach, their inclusion of a wide variety of variables, and the size of the group all lend credibility to their findings, which create a new imperative for follow-up investigations. Additional studies should, among other things, quantify more specifically the diagnosis of “attentional problem,” investigate the potential mechanisms underlying this relationship, parcel out the effects of various types of content, and ultimately seek specific causal variables, if any exist. Neuroscience increasingly confirms the power of environmental experiences in shaping the developing brain because of the plasticity of its neuronal connectivity. Thus, repeated exposure … Address correspondence to Jane M. Healy, PhD, 4266 Columbine Dr, Vail, CO 81657. E-mail: janetomh{at}vail.net