Finnish longitudinal study links higher childhood screen time to stronger teen cognition
An eight-year Finnish study found that children who spent more time on screens tended to show better cognitive processing as adolescents, with physical activity effects differing by gender.
In a Finnish eight-year follow-up of the PANIC study, researchers examined 124 girls and 136 boys with an average age of 15.8 years to assess how childhood screen time, physical activity and sedentary behavior relate to adolescent cognition. They discovered that higher screen time from early childhood correlated with stronger cognitive processing in teens, particularly when screen use involved active mental engagement such as learning or creativity.
Physical activity effects varied by sex: light-intensity activity was linked to better working memory in girls, whereas structured, guided activity was associated with improved working memory in boys. Lower levels of self-reported unsupervised activity also corresponded with better cognition, while heart-rate and movement sensor data showed no clear association. The team cautioned that these findings reflect associations and called for intervention studies to establish causality. Results were published in the journal Pediatric Exercise Science.
Why it matters
The study suggests balanced, purposeful screen use may support teen brain development, informing parents and educators.
In this story
