Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Media Lab found that students using ChatGPT for essay writing showed significantly lower brain engagement compared to those using traditional methods or Google search.
The concerning findings:
– ChatGPT users had the lowest neural activity across 32 brain regions
– Essays became increasingly similar and “soulless” over time
– Students progressively relied more on copy-paste, bypassing deep learning processes
– Brain scans revealed weaker memory integration and reduced executive control
The most striking finding? When ChatGPT users later had to write without AI assistance, they remembered little of their previous work and showed diminished cognitive patterns.
Lead researcher Nataliya Kosmyna, Ph.D emphasizes the urgency of understanding these effects, especially for developing minds: “Developing brains are at the highest risk.”
This research highlights a critical question for educators, policymakers, and professionals: How do we harness AI’s benefits while preserving essential cognitive development?
Click here to read the full analysis by Andrew Chow at TIME, and discover what this means for the future of education and workplace learning.