🧠 High on AI 🤖

Brain Connectivity Analysis, based on Dynamic Directed Transfer Function (dDTF) data from EEG recordings during essay writing, revealing how AI assistance changes brain connectivity. Based on MIT research: "Your Brain on ChatGPT: Accumulation of Cognitive Debt when Using an AI Assistant for Essay Writing Task".

Brain-Only Writing

Total DTF Connectivity
9.93
1.24x stronger
Frontal Central Parietal Temporal Temporal Occipital

ℹ️ DTF Analysis

Real Findings

Brain Regions

Frontal
Central
Parietal
Temporal
Occipital

⚠️ The "Cognitive Debt" Phenomenon

What This Research Shows

20% Reduced Connectivity
AI assistance significantly weakens brain networks
83% Memory Impairment
Participants couldn't quote their own essays
Reduced Ownership
Weaker sense of authorship and intellectual agency

Long-term Consequences

  • • Diminished Critical Inquiry: Reduced ability to evaluate information independently
  • • Increased Vulnerability: Greater susceptibility to manipulation and bias
  • • Decreased Creativity: Weakened neural networks for original thinking
  • • Cognitive Atrophy: "Use it or lose it" - neural pathways weaken without practice

Cognitive Debt Defined

Cognitive debt occurs when repeated reliance on AI systems replaces the effortful cognitive processes required for independent thinking. Like financial debt, it offers short-term convenience but accumulates long-term costs. Each time we offload thinking to AI, we defer mental effort - but this creates a compound effect where our neural networks become less capable of handling complex cognitive tasks independently.

Research Methodology

Study Design

  • • 54 participants, ages 18-39
  • • 4 sessions over 4 months
  • • 3 groups: Brain-only, LLM, Search
  • • SAT essay prompts (20 min each)
  • • 32-electrode EEG recording

Key DTF Results

  • • Brain-only total DTF: 9.93
  • • LLM-assisted total DTF: 7.98
  • • Brain-only is 1.24× stronger
  • • Delta band: largest difference (35% reduction)
  • • P7→T8: 0.053 vs 0.009 (5.9× stronger)

Behavioral Impact

  • • 83% LLM users couldn't quote essays
  • • 100% Brain-only users could quote
  • • Reduced essay ownership in LLM group
  • • Homogeneous content in LLM essays
  • • Strong variability in Brain-only essays

Based on MIT research: "Your Brain on ChatGPT: Accumulation of Cognitive Debt when Using an AI Assistant for Essay Writing Task".