ER Editor: The study summary is worth a read. There is clearly a problem when human thinking becomes reliant on machine-thinking:
This study explores the neural and behavioral consequences of LLM-assisted essay writing. Participants were divided into three groups: LLM, Search Engine, and Brain-only (no tools). Each completed three sessions under the same condition. In a fourth session, LLM users were reassigned to Brain-only group (LLM-to-Brain), and Brain-only users were reassigned to LLM condition (Brain-to-LLM). A total of 54 participants took part in Sessions 1-3, with 18 completing session 4. We used electroencephalography (EEG) to assess cognitive load during essay writing, and analyzed essays using NLP, as well as scoring essays with the help from human teachers and an AI judge. Across groups, NERs, n-gram patterns, and topic ontology showed within-group homogeneity. EEG revealed significant differences in brain connectivity: Brain-only participants exhibited the strongest, most distributed networks; Search Engine users showed moderate engagement; and LLM users displayed the weakest connectivity.Cognitive activity scaled down in relation to external tool use.In session 4, LLM-to-Brain participants showed reduced alpha and beta connectivity, indicating under-engagement.Brain-to-LLM users exhibited higher memory recall and activation of occipito-parietal and prefrontal areas, similar to Search Engine users. Self-reported ownership of essays was the lowest in the LLM group and the highest in the Brain-only group. LLM users also struggled to accurately quote their own work. While LLMs offer immediate convenience, our findings highlight potential cognitive costs. Over four months, LLM users consistently underperformed at neural, linguistic, and behavioral levels. These results raise concerns about the long-term educational implications of LLM reliance and underscore the need for deeper inquiry into AI’s role in learning.
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MIT Study Finds Artificial Intelligence Use Reprograms the Brain, Leading to Cognitive Decline
ChatGPT impairs memory and persistently suppresses brain activity—raising urgent concerns about cognitive offloading and long-term neural harm.
ER: What does ‘long-term’ mean here? It suggests just ‘four months’ according to the study.
Students who repeatedly relied on ChatGPT showed weakened neural connectivity, impaired memory recall, and diminished sense of ownershipover their own writing. While the AI-generated content often scored well, the brains behind it were shutting down.
The findings are clear: Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT and Grok don’t just help students write—they train the brain to disengage. Here’s what the researchers found:
Brain Connectivity Declines with AI Use
EEG scans revealed a systematic scaling down of neural connectivity in the brain with increasing reliance on external tools:
Brain-only group: strongest, most widespread connectivity.
Search Engine group: intermediate.
LLM group: weakest connectivity across alpha, beta, delta, and theta bands.
LLM use resulted in under-engagement of critical attention and visual processing networks, especially in Session 4 when participants tried to write without AI.
LLM Users Forget What They Just Wrote
In post-task interviews:
83.3% of LLM users were unable to quote even one sentence from the essay they had just written.
In contrast, 88.9% of Search and Brain-only users could quote accurately.
0% of LLM users could produce a correct quote, while most Brain-only and Search users could.
AI Use Disrupts Memory and Learning Pathways
Participants previously using LLMs (then writing without it in Session 4) showed:
Weaker memory recall
Lower alpha and beta neural engagement
Signs of cognitive adaptation toward passivity and “efficiency” at the cost of effortful learning.
LLM Users Felt Detached From Their Work
When asked about authorship:
LLM users gave responses like “50/50” or “70% mine.”
Some claimed no ownership at all.
Brain-only group participants almost universally reported full ownership.
Switching from LLM to Brain Use Doesn’t Fully Restore Function
Session 4: LLM-to-Brain participants showed lingering cognitive deficiency, failing to return to their original (Session 1) brain activity patterns.
Their neural activity remained below baseline, even after AI use was stopped.
EEG data showed more robust occipital and parietal activation supporting visual processing and cognitive effort.
AI Dependency Leads to “Cognitive Offloading”
Researchers noted a trend toward neural efficiency adaptation: the brain essentially “lets go” of the effort required for synthesis and memory.
This adaptation led to passivity, minimal editing, and low integration of concepts.
Short-Term Gains, Long-Term Cognitive Debt
Despite receiving decent scores from judges, the LLM group’s writing:
Lacked strategic integration.
Used fewer diverse structures.
Was shorter and more robotic.
Over time, the group showed a consistent decline in engagement, performance, and self-reported satisfaction.
Based on this study, as more of the global population begins to rely on artificial intelligence to complete complex tasks, our cognitive abilities and creative capacities appear poised to take a nosedive into oblivion.
One thing is clear: if you currently use AI, take regular breaks—and give your own mind the chance to do the work. Otherwise, you may face severe cognitive harm and dependence.
The machines aren’t just taking over our work—they’re taking over our minds.
The Liberty Beacon Project is now expanding at a near exponential rate, and for this we are grateful and excited! But we must also be practical. For 7 years we have not asked for any donations, and have built this project with our own funds as we grew. We are now experiencing ever increasing growing pains due to the large number of websites and projects we represent. So we have just installed donation buttons on our websites and ask that you consider this when you visit them. Nothing is too small. We thank you for all your support and your considerations … (TLB)
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NICOLAS HULSCHER, MPH
NICOLAS HULSCHER, MPH
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