A new MIT study has found that regular use of Artificial Intelligence tools such ChatGPT, may lower brain activity and diminish critical thinking, raising concerns about their growing role in education and professional life.
Frequent use of large language models such as ChatGPT could reduce cognitive activity and impair critical thinking skills, according to a new study by neuroscientists and AI researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
The study, conducted at MIT’s Media Lab, examined how digital writing tools influence brain function by monitoring 54 volunteers over a series of essay-writing sessions. Participants were split into three groups: one used ChatGPT, another relied on Google Search, and a third wrote independently without any digital tools. Throughout the sessions, participants wore EEG monitors (Electroencephalogram) to track brain activity and cognitive engagement.
The findings revealed that those who wrote without any assistance demonstrated the highest levels of brain activity and neural connectivity, especially in regions associated with attention and critical thinking. Google Search users showed moderate engagement, while ChatGPT users exhibited the lowest levels of cognitive workload and neural cohesion.
In a follow-up session conducted several months later, participants switched roles. Those who had previously used ChatGPT continued to show reduced brain activity and struggled with memory recall. Conversely, those who initially wrote unaided displayed improved cognitive performance and better retention of their own written content.
Researchers also noted psychological effects. ChatGPT users reported feeling less ownership of their writing and had difficulty recalling phrases they had composed. Teachers assessing the essays found the AI-assisted texts to be more formulaic and lacking in personal voice.
The study warns that while language models can be helpful, especially for efficiency, overreliance on them—particularly in educational settings—could erode independent thinking and analytical skills over time.
The death toll from an overnight Russian attack on the Kyiv region rose to four, including three children, Kyiv regional authorities said on Sunday...
Houthi attacks target Riyadh amid concerns over Saudi oil supplies, as Iran says it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until its conditions are m...
German voters cast ballots on Sunday in two state elections that could add to the political pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as his governmen...
Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy said a Togo-flagged oil tanker was struck while attempting to make an “illegal passage” through the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state media said early on Friday.
Saudi civil defence sent an all-clear on Saturday after issuing alerts for a second time for potential danger in Riyadh and the city of Al-Kharj east of the capital, amid an uptick in attacks by Iran-aligned Houthis on the Gulf country.
The European Union will disburse €3.3 billion ($3.8 billion) to Ukraine for missiles and drones, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Houthi attacks target Riyadh amid concerns over Saudi oil supplies, as Iran says it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until its conditions are met and U.S. commitments are implemented, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Sunday.
The U.S. State Department approved a $2.7 billion military sale to Ukraine for air-defence development upgrades, along with related equipment and services, the department said. Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities reported at least 10 people had died in Russian attacks over the last 24 hours.
German voters cast ballots on Sunday in two state elections that could add to the political pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as his government faces growing public frustration and a resurgent far right.
Iraq has returned restricted airspace across the western part of the country to civilian authorities, ending limits imposed for military operations against Islamic State since 2016, the Transport Ministry said.
Denmark and Greenland have moved to reassure the public that their sovereignty will remain intact under a new security agreement with the United States.
World leaders are set to gather at the United Nations General Assembly in New York for several days of high-level debate, with Iran, Ukraine, artificial intelligence (AI) and a range of global crises expected to dominate discussions this week.
Ed Sheeran has broken his silence on the controversy surrounding his U.S. tour, apologising for decisions made after rapper Macklemore was removed from the line-up over his public support for Palestine.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment