Core Viewpoint - Over-reliance on AI tools like ChatGPT can significantly reduce brain activity levels, impair memory, and lead to "cognitive inertia" [1][25][28] Group 1: Research Findings - A recent MIT study utilized EEG, NLP analysis, and behavioral science to confirm the negative cognitive impacts of AI tools [3][25] - The study involved 54 college students divided into three groups: LLM group (using OpenAI GPT-4o), search engine group (using Google without LLM), and pure brain group (no tools) [11][13] - Results indicated that the pure brain group exhibited the strongest neural connections, indicating higher cognitive load and deeper thinking [17][20] Group 2: Cognitive Effects - Participants relying on LLM showed the weakest neural connections and significantly reduced independent thinking [18][25] - Over-reliance on LLM led to shallow memory encoding, with 83.3% of LLM users unable to accurately recall their papers [21] - In contrast, only 11.1% of pure brain users faced similar recall issues, although they took longer to write [22] Group 3: Long-term Implications - The study suggests that long-term dependence on LLM alters brain information processing from "actively generating information" to "passively filtering information," weakening independent thought and problem-solving skills [28][30] - The research team emphasizes the importance of balancing AI tool usage with independent thinking, recommending AI for grammar checks and initial research rather than core content generation [30][31]