Overview

• An EEG study by MIT Media Lab and Wellesley College divided 54 participants into three groups and found that those using ChatGPT had significantly lower neural engagement than peers who wrote unaided or with search engines.
• ChatGPT users struggled to recall their own sentences, with more than 80% unable to remember content minutes after writing, indicating reduced memory retention.
• The study showed that cognitive debt persisted when heavy AI users switched back to brain-only writing, whereas participants who drafted essays without AI before using ChatGPT maintained higher engagement.
• Educators and policymakers are developing new assessment methods and emphasizing foundational critical thinking skills to prevent AI tools from becoming cognitive crutches in learning environments.
• Researchers are exploring guidelines and limits on AI use during formative learning stages to balance the convenience of assistants with the preservation of independent problem-solving abilities.