Finnish study finds more childhood screen time linked to sharper teen cognition

A decade-long PANIC study in Finland followed about 260 children from ages 6–8 to mid-teens, tracking movement and screen use and then testing learning and working memory. Contrary to the expectation that more screen time harms minds, teens with higher cumulative screen time performed better on cognitive tests. The researchers stress this is observational and shows associations, not causation; the quality and active engagement of screen use (puzzles, problem solving, learning) likely matter more than hours alone. The study also found sex- and activity-related differences and underscores the importance of movement, calling for intervention studies to clarify causal effects.