Scientists tracked kids for 8 years — the screen time result was unexpected
Science Daily · 2026-08-17
A longitudinal study spanning eight years, concluded on August 17, 2026, revealed an unexpected connection between screen time and cognitive performance in adolescents. Researchers from the University of Jyväskylä, as part of the PANIC study, tracked 124 girls and 136 boys, finding that greater screen time starting in childhood was associated with better cognitive processing in their teenage years. Doctoral Researcher Petri Jalanko suggests the *type* of screen engagement is crucial, positing that activities promoting active thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and learning contribute to this observed link.
The study also complexly linked physical activity to cognition, with sex-specific differences. Girls showed better working memory with greater light intensity physical activity since childhood, while boys benefited from more guided physical activity. Interestingly, lower levels of self-reported unsupervised physical activity correlated with better cognitive processing. Device-measured physical activity and sedentary time, however, showed no direct association with cognition, possibly due to limitations in discerning activity type. The researchers emphasize these findings show associations, not causation, highlighting the need for further intervention studies to confirm causal relationships and explore sex differences and intensity effects.
*The full article also explores the methodological approaches, including the CogState test battery, and the specific journal of publication.*