MASSACHUSETTS (Enmaeya News) — September 25, 2025

Using ChatGPT as a constant writing aid may erode memory, creativity, and brain engagement, according to a recent study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Media Lab.

The experiment, titled “Your Brain on ChatGPT: Accumulation of Cognitive Debt,” tracked 54 participants over four months. Volunteers were split into three groups: one wrote essays unaided, another used search engines, and a third relied entirely on ChatGPT. Each participant produced three SAT-style essays before switching methods in a final round.

Electroencephalogram (EEG) scans showed sharp differences in brain activity. The unaided group recorded the strongest neural connectivity in regions tied to memory and creative processing. Search-engine users showed moderate engagement. ChatGPT users scored lowest, with weakened alpha and beta connectivity.

Beyond brain scans, behavior also shifted. ChatGPT users described less “ownership” of their essays and often struggled to recall their own words only minutes later. Their essays became increasingly formulaic and scored lower in quality over time. Even after switching back to solo writing, many displayed what researchers called “cognitive fatigue,” with brains still showing weak engagement.

By contrast, participants who began without AI and later used ChatGPT regained strong activity, suggesting that starting with personal thinking may buffer against decline.

Researchers warn this pattern reflects what they call “cognitive debt” — a gradual shrinking of the brain’s ability to think, remember, or engage when AI is used as a substitute rather than a support. They recommend students and professionals begin with their own ideas before turning to AI for refinement or context.

The findings remain preliminary. The study has not been peer-reviewed, the sample size was small and geographically narrow, and results are limited to essay writing with one language model. Broader tests with other tasks and tools are still needed.