Research

MIT Study Finds AI Use Reduces Brain Activity, Weakens Recall

The research provides the first empirical evidence that reliance on tools like ChatGPT can diminish long-term learning skills.

Olivia Sharp 1 min read 732 views
Free
A new MIT study found that using AI tools like ChatGPT for writing tasks reduces brain activity and weakens long-term recall and summarization skills.

AI and Cognitive Load

A study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), reported on Oct. 1, 2025, found that using large language models like ChatGPT for writing tasks measurably reduces brain activity and can impair long-term recall. The research provides some of the first empirical evidence of the potential negative cognitive effects of over-reliance on artificial intelligence.

Researchers used electroencephalography (EEG) to monitor the cognitive load of participants writing essays under three conditions: - Without any technology ("brain-only"). - Using Google Search. - Using ChatGPT.

The results showed that participants using ChatGPT had the least neural activity, indicating …

Archive Access

This article is older than 24 hours. Create a free account to access our 7-day archive.

Share this article

Related Articles