Story at-a-glance A 72-hour break from cellphones triggered increased cravings in study participants; brain scans showed heightened activity in reward centers when shown phone images Cellphones stimulate your brain's pleasure center similarly to other rewards, creating dopamine hits that lead to dependency Your brain's attention center becomes increasingly focused on phones, making it difficult to concentrate on other tasks without feeling pulled back to check devices Regular phone breaks help manage cellphone dependence; strategies like setting phone-free times during meals or before bed reduce cravings Excessive phone use negatively impacts focus, sleep and mood, creating addiction-like patterns that interfere with overall well-being