Scientists tracked kids for 8 years — the screen time result was unexpected
An eight-year Finnish study found that children who spent more time on screens tended to show better cognitive processing as teenagers, challenging common assumptions about screen use. Researchers say the key may be balancing physical activity with screen activities that encourage learning, creativity, and active thinking.
A Finnish study tracking children for eight years found an unexpected connection between screen time and improved cognitive function during adolescence. Children who increased their screen time as they grew up tended to perform better in cognitive processing later in their teenage years. Researchers caution that screen time should not be viewed solely as harmful but rather as an opportunity to promote active thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and learning.
Doctoral researcher Petri Jalanko from the University of Jyväskylä emphasizes the importance of engaging in screen activities that stimulate mental engagement. While physical activity showed varying links to cognitive processing between girls and boys, lower levels of unsupervised physical activity were associated with better cognitive processing in girls, whereas greater participation in guided physical activity was linked to better working memory in boys.
However, the study did not find a direct correlation between physical activity and cognitive processing when measured using devices that track heart rate and movement. The researchers highlight that the relationship between physical activity, sedentary behavior, and cognitive processing is complex and influenced by factors such as sex, type, and assessment method of physical activity and sedentary time.
They stress the need for further research to determine causal relationships and the impact of the intensity of physical activity on cognitive processing. The findings, based on the PANIC study, include 124 girls and 136 boys with an average age of 15.8 years and were published in the journal Pediatric Exercise Science.
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