Finnish Study Links 8 Years of Screen Time to Better Teen Cognition

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo! Voices · Aug 23

260 Finnish adolescents tested at age 15.8 showed faster reaction times, stronger working-memory accuracy and better overall cognitive performance when they had logged more cumulative self-reported screen time since childhood.
The finding comes from the PANIC study’s eight-year follow-up, which tracked habits from ages 6 to 9 and paired questionnaires on screen use with Cogstate cognitive tests and Actiheart movement and heart-rate measurements.
Researchers said the result shows screen time should not automatically be treated as harmful, and suggested parents and teachers focus more on whether device use involves problem-solving, creativity and learning.
The study did not prove screens caused better cognition: screen use was measured broadly, cognition was assessed at follow-up, and family background, education, interests or stronger baseline abilities could also explain the link.