In a hyperconnected daily life, taking a screenshot has become a mechanical reflex. Whether it’s a work of art, text, or an inspiring illustration, we accumulate these digital files in the hopes of keeping them indefinitely.
However, science and neurology now prove that this visual habit is harmful to our brain capacities: the more we scan, the less we retain.
The paradoxical effect of photography on our memories
As early as 2014, scientific work highlighted a paradoxical phenomenon. We tend to take photos of the events that are important to us, even though triggering the lens deteriorates the recording of details. This is “the memorization deficit effect linked to taking photos”.
Viewed by True MedicalDr Wilfrid Casseron, neurologist, explains this phenomenon. “Taking a photo is seen by most people as a way to engrave in their memory a specific moment that seems important to them. In reality, this gesture clearly leads to a memorization deficit. The brain tends to retain information less, especially when it is linked to emotional events, due to the interposition of technical mediation.
Cognitive discharge, this shortcut that traps the brain
Research carried out in 2025 wanted to check whether screenshots could constitute a form of automatic cognitive offloading. This would allow the brain to free up resources for other tasks. To test this, the scientists subjected students to seven separate experiments.
The data revealed that screenshots cause even greater memory damage than traditional photos. “We found that the memory impairment associated with screenshots was more pronounced than that observed with taking photos” underlined Sophia P. Fabrizio and Deanne L. Westerman, co-authors of the study.
How to explain such a phenomenon? Dr Wilfrid Casseron details the workings of this cognitive discharge.
“When you press the shutter button or take a screenshot, your brain subconsciously tells itself that the information is stored elsewhere and therefore does not need to make the effort necessary to retain it. This mechanism bypasses the natural process of encoding long-term memory, which normally uses the temporal lobe and the hippocampus. The brain obeys a principle of least effort: it will not engage in long-term retention if it knows that the data is stored on an external medium”.
Attentional disengagement, a more severe impact
Our expert sees this as the direct action of attentional disengagement. “When you take a photo or capture an image, it requires technical commitment and attention – framing, checking brightness, focusing. This process involves divided attention: instead of concentrating on the scene, experiencing it fully with all your sensory and emotional sphere, you experience it through a screen. By weakening the sensory cues that normally help to imprint an event in the mind, you degrade the quality of memory.”
Even when study participants were warned that a memory test would take place, they were unable to compensate for this loss of attention. This discrepancy proves that the phenomenon operates automatically.
An unconscious mechanism that is better to bypass
Thousands of images accumulate in our smartphones only to sink into oblivion. “If information is really important to you and you want to memorize it without outside help, the best strategy may be to put your smartphone away” recommend the researchers.
Dr. Casseron even offers concrete ideas for reaccustoming our brain to the effort of memorization. “To fight against this cognitive laziness, we must re-engage reality and emotion. Before taking a shot, take ten seconds to look at the scene, observe the details and soak up the moment. It’s also better to make a conscious selection – for example taking three thoughtful photos rather than machine-gunning an event – or even reframing a specific detail to force the brain into active engagement.”
Because in the face of new technologies, our human brains are no match. “The more passive we are in the face of digital tools, the more our intellectual performance will weaken. he concludes.