A recent MIT study suggests that relying on AI tools like ChatGPT could be lowering brain activity during problem-solving and writing tasks. Using electroencephalography (EEG) to measure cognitive load, researchers found that people who wrote essays without digital assistance showed the most neural activity, while those using search engines or AI demonstrated noticeably less.
The unaided group’s brains were the most engaged, the search group showed moderate effort, and the AI group displayed the lowest levels of neural connectivity.
Memory and ownership decline
The study also examined “ownership” — the ability of participants to recall and summarize their own work. Those who used AI struggled most with remembering what they had written, and their essays tended to be more uniform compared to other groups.
Interestingly, participants using search engines or AI had higher visual cortex activity, indicating they were focused more on what the tools produced rather than their own thought process.
Long-term implications
Researchers tested switching strategies: some participants moved from unaided writing to using AI, while others went from AI assistance to solo writing. The results showed that those who started with AI and then went tool-free exhibited weaker neural connectivity and less engagement. Conversely, participants who first relied on their own brains before introducing AI demonstrated stronger memory recall and cognitive integration.
This points to an important distinction: using AI after forming independent ideas may enhance cognitive output, but starting with AI appears to dampen mental performance over time.
A limited but pressing study
The experiment involved only a few dozen participants, so the findings aren’t yet conclusive. The authors emphasized the need for larger and more diverse studies to validate the results. Still, they warn that heavy reliance on AI could contribute to declining learning skills, especially as tools like ChatGPT become embedded in education and everyday work.
The bigger picture
The takeaway is clear: while AI can be a useful tool for refining ideas, summarizing, or adding context, leaning on it too early risks weakening critical thinking and recall. Search engines landed in the middle ground, but as they increasingly integrate AI-generated results, they may carry similar risks.
For now, the research suggests that the healthiest approach is to let the human brain lead — and let AI support, not replace, the process of thinking.
Source: https://www.artificialintelligence-news.com/news/ai-causes-reduction-in-users-brain-activity-mit/
