Final answer:
Brain scans of heavy media users often show a decrease in gray matter and potential abnormalities in white matter, which might affect various cognitive and emotional control functions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Brain scans of heavy media users typically show changes in brain structure and function. Specifically, such scans can demonstrate a decrease in gray matter, which makes up the outer cortex of the brain and is involved in processing information and executing control over responses and behavior. In addition, there could be abnormal white matter, which connects different brain regions and is vital for efficient neural communication.
Changes in these areas might impact the areas that control emotions and cognition among other functions. Moreover, the use of functional MRI (fMRI) scans has allowed for the mapping of active brain regions, showing detailed patterns of brain activity and changes in blood flow related to cognitive processes.