A new study from MIT researchers has found that students using ChatGPT for essay writing showed the lowest brain engagement levels and "consistently underperformed at neural, linguistic, and behavioral levels" compared to peers who wrote without AI assistance. The findings come as teen usage of the artificial intelligence chatbot for schoolwork has doubled in the past year, raising fresh concerns about the technology's impact on learning and development.
The MIT Media Lab study, published this month, used EEG technology to monitor brain activity in 54 subjects aged 18-39 as they wrote SAT essays using ChatGPT, Google search, or no assistance. Researchers found ChatGPT users became increasingly lazy over multiple sessions, often resorting to copy-and-paste by the study's end, while those writing without AI showed the highest neural connectivity in areas associated with creativity and memory processing.
The study's lead author, Nataliya Kosmyna, released findings before peer review because of concerns about policy decisions affecting young learners. "Developing brains are at the highest risk," she said, warning against implementing "GPT kindergarten" programs1.
Her timing appears prescient. According to the Pew Research Center, 26% of teens aged 13-17 now use ChatGPT for schoolwork, up from 13% in 20232. The increase was most pronounced among Black and Hispanic students, at 31% each, compared to 22% of White teens3.
Research on ChatGPT's mental health impacts reveals competing findings. A Yale study discovered that ChatGPT can experience "anxiety" when exposed to traumatic prompts, becoming more biased in responses—a concern for the 73% of users who employ AI chatbots for anxiety management12.
However, other studies suggest benefits. A university intervention study found students reported positive emotional support from ChatGPT, with high ratings for empathy and practical advice3. Research published in PLOS Mental Health showed ChatGPT responses in therapy scenarios were often rated higher than those from human therapists4.
The research reveals a growing disconnect between student enthusiasm and educator concerns. While 65% of college students believe they know more about AI than their instructors, 69% of teachers and school leaders expect AI will negatively impact teen mental health over the next decade12.
Meanwhile, teens remain optimistic, with only 25% expecting negative mental health impacts compared to 30% anticipating positive effects2.
"How are we using AI and technology as tools to elevate the conditions and the experiences of education for students without sacrificing the human connection that we absolutely know is integral to learning?" asked Ally Skoog-Hoffman of the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning3.
