A study from the MIT Media Lab investigated the effects of using ChatGPT on cognitive engagement in young adults. The research involved 54 participants aged 18 to 39 from the Boston area, who wrote SAT-style essays using ChatGPT, Google Search, or no digital tools.
EEG scans revealed that participants using ChatGPT showed the lowest levels of brain engagement. Researchers noted that these users "consistently underperformed at neural, linguistic, and behavioral levels." Over time, the ChatGPT group became increasingly passive, often resorting to copy-paste methods.
The "brain-only" group, writing without assistance, displayed the highest neural connectivity, particularly in areas associated with creativity and memory. This group also expressed more curiosity and satisfaction. Those using Google Search also showed high engagement and satisfaction.
When asked to revise their work, the ChatGPT group struggled to recall their previous work, showing lower brainwave activity. In contrast, the brain-only group, given access to ChatGPT for the rewrite, demonstrated increased brain connectivity. The study, titled "Your Brain on ChatGPT: Accumulation of Cognitive Debt when Using an AI Assistant for Essay Writing Task," was published on June 10, 2025.
The study's lead researcher, Nataliya Kosmyna, emphasized the urgency of publishing the findings. She expressed concern about the potential impact on developing brains. The research underscores the need for further investigation into the long-term effects of AI tools like ChatGPT on cognitive development and learning.