Silvia P. Petkova, Violeta R. Manolova and Stoyan R. Vezenkov
Center for applied neuroscience Vezenkov, BG-1582, Sofia, e-mail: info@vezenkov.com
For citation: Petkova, S. P., Manolova, V. R., & Vezenkov, S. R. (2025). Restoring attachment in children with early screen addiction. Nootism, 1(1), 74-78, ISSN 3033-1765
*This paper was presented by Silvia Petkova at the Second Science Conference "Screen Children" on November 23, 2024, in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Abstract
This study examines the restoration of attachment and social learning in children with early screen addiction. It focuses on the disruption of mirror neuron networks, which leads to difficulties in emotional regulation, social interaction, and attachment formation. The therapeutic approach designed to address these deficits includes a complete screen detox, autonomic nervous system rehabilitation, and parallel interventions for parents.
The research sample consists of 32 children (aged 3–5 years) diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their mothers. Initial assessments reveal deficits in social engagement, imitation, and attachment. The therapeutic program employs non-apparatus interventions based on social learning, sensorimotor integration, and autonomic regulation. Simultaneously, mothers participate in biofeedback therapy, as their emotional and autonomic balance significantly influences their children's recovery progress.
Findings indicate that recovery occurs in stages. By the sixth week, children begin imitating therapists, and between the tenth and fourteenth weeks, they exhibit increased social interactions. By the sixteenth week, 21 children demonstrate restored attachment, while four show partial progress, with two maintaining unstable outcomes.
The data underscore the pivotal role of maternal emotional regulation—mothers with better autonomic balance facilitate more rapid social recovery in their children. In the initial stages, children primarily mirror therapists’ behaviors due to their stable autonomic regulation before actively engaging with their mothers.
This study confirms that early screen addiction is not irreversible. However, effective intervention requires a comprehensive approach that integrates child-focused therapy with family-based support. Successful therapeutic programs should combine psychophysiological rehabilitation, screen time reduction, and parental emotional stabilization to promote long-term social and emotional development in children.
Keywords: Early Screen Addiction, Attachment, Mirror Neurons, Social Learning, Autonomic Balance
Introduction
Attachment disorders, in all their forms of insecure attachment, are closely linked to parental attachment styles and/or early childhood neglect. (Bernier et al., 2016) The absence of a consistent and responsive caregiver during the formative years can hinder the development of secure attachment, impacting not only a child's emotional and psychological well-being but also the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Research has shown that while secure attachment is associated with autonomic balance, different forms of insecure attachment correlate with autonomic dysregulation. (Arnsten, 2009; Feldman et al., 2011; Field et al., 2008)
Children exposed to severe toxic stress or traumatic events often exhibit delays in the development of mirror neuron networks, which play a crucial role in social learning, emotional regulation, and empathy. (Bonini et al., 2022) Mirror neurons enable children to imitate facial expressions, interpret nonverbal cues, and develop an understanding of others' thoughts and emotions. (Rizzolatti et al., 2004; Iacoboni et al., 2009) When this system is impaired, children face challenges in forming emotional connections, engaging socially, and developing empathy—factors that contribute to avoidant, anxious, or disorganized attachment patterns. (Lepage et al., 2007)
Recent research has begun to examine a phenomenon similar to trauma—the impact of early screen addiction on the development of the mirror neuron system. (Dolan, 2024) When screen exposure becomes excessive before the age of three, children tend to attune their mirror systems to digital images rather than to significant adults. This shift leads to a form of substitute social learning, where attachment to real people fails to develop, even in the presence of securely attached parents. (Yuan et al., 2024)
This disruption affects not only emotional development but also autonomic regulation. The lack of reciprocal social interactions diminishes parasympathetic system activity, leading to increased stress, anxiety, and autonomic imbalance. (Goldstein et al., 2011)
The relationship between attachment and the autonomic nervous system (ANS) is bidirectional—ANS imbalance can reinforce insecure attachment, while insecure attachment, in turn, contributes to ANS dysregulation. (Fonagi et al., 2011) Specifically:
- Avoidant attachment is linked to suppressed autonomic responses, low heart rate variability (HRV), and predominant sympathetic activation during stress. (Feldman et al., 2011)
- Anxious attachment is associated with an overactive sympathetic system, resulting in heightened cortisol levels and chronic physiological stress.
- Disorganized attachment is marked by unstable ANS regulation, fluctuating between hyperarousal (sympathetic dominance) and parasympathetic “shutdown” (autonomic collapse), a pattern often seen in dissociation and freeze responses.
Restoring attachment in children with screen addiction requires a comprehensive approach that involves both the child and their parents, particularly the mother. Effective therapeutic interventions focus on emotional and social rehabilitation, ensuring that the mother is equipped to recognize and respond appropriately to her child's social cues as their mirror neurons gradually reorient toward human interactions.
Parental autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulation also plays a critical role. Mothers with a well-balanced autonomic system (harmonized sympathetic and parasympathetic activity) are better able to co-regulate their child’s emotional state. Conversely, mothers with autonomic dysregulation due to chronic stress—whether in the form of anxiety or emotional detachment—may unintentionally impede the child’s attachment recovery.
This study emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive therapeutic approach that targets screen addiction, strengthens the parent-child bond, enhances autonomic nervous system (ANS) balance in parents, and stimulates mirror neuron activity through targeted therapy and social-interactive interventions. Recognizing the interplay between attachment, ANS regulation, and mirror neurons offers valuable therapeutic strategies for restoring emotional connection and improving social functioning in children affected by screen addiction.
Design
This study examines 32 children aged 3 to 5 years, all previously diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Initial assessments reveal a broad range of symptoms characteristic of early screen addiction, including a lack of interest in parents or evaluation team members, an inability to imitate, and difficulties in processing emotionally and socially relevant stimuli appropriate for their age.
Each child undergoes a specialized therapy program designed to address screen addiction, aiming for a full restoration of nervous system and brain function, with the ultimate goal of eliminating autistic-like traits. The intervention includes a complete screen detox and a structured, step-by-step process to rebalance the autonomic nervous system, enhance adaptability, and address sensorimotor fragmentation, disintegration, and disorganization. Additionally, the therapy focuses on fostering emotional self-regulation and reactivating cortical function through targeted exercises in close collaboration with a therapist.
The program is entirely non-instrumental for children, meaning all therapeutic interventions are facilitated by the therapist, while parents—both mother and father—receive structured guidance for implementing supportive practices at home. Furthermore, both the screen addiction therapists and the therapists working with the mothers are required to maintain optimal autonomic and cortical regulation. To ensure this, they participate in weekly biofeedback supervision sessions, which monitor and support their physiological and emotional well-being.
In addition to the child’s therapy, each mother undergoes biofeedback neurotherapy to support autonomic regulation and emotional balance. The assessment of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) is conducted through a multimodal screening process, measuring heart rate variability (HRV), skin conductance level (SCL), heart rate (HR), temperature (T), and electromyography (EMG). The therapy focuses on training for autonomic balance and cortical alertness, helping mothers develop greater physiological stability, which in turn supports their child’s recovery.
Therapeutic sessions for both the child and mother occur once per week, for 50 minutes, at the same time, in parallel, with each receiving therapy from a dedicated specialist. The therapeutic team consists of six professionals—three therapists working with children and three working with mothers—who collectively support 32 mother-child pairs.
Results
The therapeutic process for children with early screen addiction requires a multidisciplinary approach rooted in neuroscientific principles, including mirror neuron activation, social learning, and attachment development. This study examines the dynamics of attachment recovery within a structured therapeutic framework involving 32 mother-child pairs.
The research identifies three key developmental stages, each marking progressive improvements in social engagement and reciprocal behavior in the children.
Stage One: Initial Phase of Therapy (Up to Week 6)
In the early phase of therapy, 25 mothers exhibited severe autonomic imbalance, while six showed signs of fatigue and situational stress. Only three mothers demonstrated a stable autonomic state at the beginning of the study.
All children in the study displayed an insecure attachment style. However, their lack of social learning suggested a disrupted mirror neuron system. Their attachment behaviors reflected learned patterns from earlier developmental stages, prior to the onset of screen addiction. Many children exhibited infantile behaviors, such as clinging to their mothers and using primitive attention-seeking strategies, indicating that their social learning system had stalled at an earlier stage of development—likely when screen addiction began. As a result, they appeared unresponsive to traditional learning approaches. Additionally, the children showed no interest in human interactions, focusing exclusively on objects. These observations led to the hypothesis that their mirror neuron systems and social learning mechanisms were entirely blocked, necessitating a therapy strategy aimed at reactivating mirror neuron function.
By week six, significant variability emerged in maternal engagement levels. Seven mother-child pairs discontinued therapy due to mothers’ lack of participation, including session absences, minimal involvement, and reluctance to cooperate. All of these mothers belonged to the group with severe autonomic imbalance.
During this phase, early signs of social learning began to emerge in the children. They displayed mirror responses toward therapists, including movement imitation, spontaneous moments of attachment, and episodes of emotional crises and rejection. Notably, the three mothers with a stable autonomic state reported that their children not only imitated the therapists but also began mirroring similar behaviors at home, marking early signs of attachment restoration.
Stage Two: Strengthening Social Learning (Weeks 10–11)
During this phase, 18 mothers exhibited significant improvements in autonomic regulation, demonstrating greater adaptability and resilience to stress. These physiological changes correlated with notable progress in their children’s behavior, as the children expanded their social learning abilities, beginning to imitate not only their therapists but also their mothers.
The three mothers who initially had a stable autonomic state reported further strengthening of their emotional connection with their children. Their children began showing interest in teachers, fathers, siblings, and peers, displaying greater social engagement and improved stress tolerance.
In contrast, four mothers showed a slower pace of autonomic regulation, experiencing disrupted sleep and heightened symptoms. Despite these challenges, gradual positive changes were observed. However, their children remained in an earlier phase of social learning, continuing to engage primarily with therapists and showing limited interest in other adults or peers.
Stage Three: Social Engagement and Attachment Stabilization (Week 16)
By week 16, 21 mothers achieved autonomic balance, which correlated with progressive attachment recovery in their children. At this stage, the children not only imitated movements but also began reproducing words and phrases, laughing with others, and showing active interest in familiar people’s activities. Additionally, they developed social reference points, seeking social approval, establishing clear boundaries between right and wrong behavior, and handling conflicts with greater emotional stability rather than extreme reactions.
Two mothers showed significant improvement, with their symptoms becoming less pronounced and positive emotional states prevailing. Their children began engaging more actively with them and with others, imitating behavioral patterns, and participating in social play. However, some children still exhibited occasional uncertainty in social interactions.
Two mothers did not demonstrate substantial progress, as they failed to consistently follow therapeutic recommendations and avoided emotional engagement with their children. Consequently, their children did not develop stable attachment behaviors toward them. Interestingly, one mother reported that her child unexpectedly formed a strong attachment to the father, despite his previous lack of involvement in caregiving. The child began imitating him, seeking his attention, and attempting to comfort him during moments of emotional distress.
Key Findings from Stage Three
The third phase of therapy revealed the following outcomes:
- 21 children demonstrated stable signs of attachment to both their therapist and mother, along with improved emotional self-regulation. They also showed progress in developing complex motor patterns such as dancing, reproducing words and phrases, displaying empathy, and engaging in spontaneous laughter.
- Four children exhibited limited but gradually improving social learning. Among them, two displayed unstable attachment recovery—one child showed sporadic signs of connection, while the other developed a stronger attachment to the father while rejecting the mother.
After 16 weeks of therapy, mothers reported that despite significant progress, they sometimes reverted to previous dysfunctional interaction patterns during moments of emotional crisis, which temporarily negatively affected their children's behavior.
Despite these challenges, the overall therapeutic trend indicates positive progress, suggesting that attachment recovery is achievable through gradual social learning and mirror neuron activation.
Discussion
This study confirms that early screen addiction (before the age of three) has severe consequences for attachment development and social learning. The findings indicate that children with early screen addiction exhibit compromised mirror neuron networks, impaired emotional regulation, and a lack of attachment, regardless of their parents’ initial attachment styles.
The therapeutic results demonstrate that recovery is a gradual, step-by-step process and is achievable through targeted intervention. Within the first six weeks, children began to show imitation and early signs of attachment toward the therapist. Between weeks 10 and 14, significant improvements were observed in social behavior, emotional responsiveness, verbal imitation, and participation in social play. By week 16, 21 children displayed fully restored attachment and social skills, while four children showed incomplete or unstable attachment patterns.
The parallel therapy for mothers played a crucial role in the recovery process. Mothers with severe autonomic imbalance at the start of therapy were correlated with delayed attachment recovery in their children. The data suggest that mothers who actively participated in the therapeutic process and improved their emotional regulation contributed to a faster and more successful restoration of attachment in their children. Conversely, in cases where mothers showed low engagement or refused to participate, the children's recovery was significantly slower or entirely absent.
The study confirms that early screen addiction is reversible, but its successful resolution depends on active parental involvement, particularly from the mother. This underscores the importance of integrated interventions that support both the child and the family environment.
Furthermore, the findings highlight that therapists are not only facilitators of the therapy but must also maintain their own autonomic and cortical balance. Their physiological regulation is monitored through weekly biofeedback supervision, ensuring optimal effectiveness of the therapeutic process.
The Influence of Therapists' Autonomic Regulation on Children
Children with early screen addiction have a compromised mirror neuron system, which prevents them from automatically imitating others and developing social learning skills. Interestingly, they begin mirroring their therapists before their parents, due to several key factors:
- Stable Autonomic Regulation – Therapists maintain a calm and balanced autonomic state, creating a predictable and safe environment. Children with dysregulated nervous systems are highly sensitive to the autonomic states of those around them. Subconsciously, they seek out the most stable autonomic rhythm to synchronize with, which is consistently provided by the therapist.
- Consistent Behavior – Therapists interact with children in a predictable and emotionally steady manner, avoiding sudden mood shifts. This consistency fosters a sense of security, which is essential for the formation of healthy attachment and trust.
- Reduced Exposure to External Stressors – Unlike family interactions, which may be affected by anxiety and tension, therapy sessions take place in a controlled environment. This separation from family stressors provides children with a more stable space for social learning and emotional regulation.
Why Don’t Children Mirror Their Mothers Immediately?
- Mothers initially experience severe autonomic imbalance – At the beginning of therapy, the majority of mothers (29 out of 32) exhibit high levels of stress and autonomic dysregulation, making it difficult for their children to synchronize with them.
- Maternal stress is linked to their child’s behavior – Mothers experience chronic anxiety about their child’s condition, leading to an unstable and unpredictable autonomic rhythm. As a result, children subconsciously avoid mirroring their mothers because they cannot attune to their dysregulated nervous system.
What Happens After Mothers Improve?
After approximately 10 weeks of therapy, as mothers restore their autonomic balance, children begin mirroring them. This suggests that once the mother achieves sufficient physiological stability, the child—having already started to rebuild its capacity for social learning—begins to recognize her as a primary attachment figure.
Therapists play a key role in the early recovery phase, as their regulated nervous systems provide a stable foundation for mirror learning. Children do not mirror therapists simply because they are therapists, but because therapists are the most physiologically stable adults in their environment.
This underscores the importance of autonomic regulation in adults involved in the therapeutic process. For attachment to be successfully restored, mothers must first achieve their own autonomic stability.
Moreover, this raises a broader question about the autonomic balance and cortical alertness of all individuals who interact with children affected by screen addiction and attachment disorders, including parents, teachers, and therapists.
Conclusions
The effects of early screen addiction on child attachment can be overcome through targeted and integrated therapy aimed at restoring neurophysiological and socio-emotional mechanisms. The recovery process requires a comprehensive approach, including social learning rehabilitation, sensorimotor integration, and autonomic nervous system stabilization.
Attachment recovery is a dynamic process that depends not only on the child but also on the parents. The findings confirm that maternal autonomic balance correlates with the child’s ability to re-engage socially. In the early stages of mirror neuron system activation, children initially mirror therapists—who provide a stable autonomic environment—before they begin forming stronger connections with their mothers.
This highlights the need for a holistic psychophysiological approach that addresses not only the child’s individual deficits but also those of significant caregivers. Targeted intervention with parents, particularly mothers, is crucial for the sustained recovery of attachment and social functioning in children. Therefore, future interventions should incorporate integrated family support strategies, focusing on optimizing parental autonomic balance and emotional regulation, which are key factors in the long-term success of therapy.
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