SMART · Social Media Artistic tRaining in Teenagers

SMART is at a novel intersection between cognitive developmental neuroscience, neuroeducation, mobile health promotion, human brain connectivity, and art appreciation & creation fields. The motivation behind SMART is, first, the increase in usage of smart devices/social media platforms (SM), paired with a reduction in the age of first exposure to these platforms; and second, the focus of neuroscientific research on negative effects of their overuse, despite the evidenced positive influences that SM hold (boosting social interaction, creativity, health promotion). Reported negative influences include alterations on executive functions, cognitive & emotional control, and an increased risk of developing depression and anxiety throughout adolescence/adulthood. Nevertheless, effects of overuse of SM during development are influenced by different factors, with the type of activities/interactions playing a crucial role. SMART’s main goal is to apply art-related interventions to transform the use of SM by adolescents, while seeking to overcome the negative implications linked to the excessive ‘passive’ use of these platforms, at brain, cognitive & mental health levels. Art-based interventions have previously proven to strengthen the same brain networks and functions most frequently impaired due to SM passive overuse. Our artistic interventions will engage participants in more stimulating/intellectual SM activities, reducing the passive overuse, and potentially promoting cultural practices that reduce overall use/dependency of SM. Novelty is granted by using a digital art creation approach (no classical art training), involving daily used devices & motivating environments, and the combination of multimethodological data to study the brain mechanisms behind potential cognitive & emotional changes induced by the interventions. Conclusions from SMART may promote artistic activities/professions, inspire education programs and policy, and be applied to improve academic outcomes.