AI and memory: Neurosurgeon explains what happens to your brain when you stop recalling and reasoning
New Delhi: Chatbots now summarise long documents, answer homework questions and draft emails in seconds, and many people have started handing small mental tasks over to them without a second thought. Doctors say this raises a fair concern about what happens to memory and thinking when the brain is asked to do less.
In a communication to News9 Digital, Dr Nigel Peter Symss, Senior Consultant Neuro Surgery at Gleneagles Chennai, explains how the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex work together during learning, what current research can and cannot tell us about AI use, and why regular practice matters most for children and young adults. His view is measured: there is no proof yet that AI causes lasting damage, but skills that are not practised can become weaker.
Doctor on AI and memory
Dr Nigel Peter Symss said, “The human brain adapts through learning and experience. Neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to change and strengthen connections between nerve cells, plays an important role in learning and memory. The hippocampus, a region deep within the brain, helps us form new memories.”
He added, “Activities such as recalling information, solving problems and thinking independently help us learn and remember things better.”
On the growing use of AI, he said, “With AI increasingly performing tasks such as summarising information, generating answers and solving problems, the concern is whether we are gradually reducing our own mental engagement. This is particularly relevant for children, whose thinking and learning abilities are still developing.”
Talking about young users, Dr Symss said, “When children rely on AI to complete tasks without attempting them independently, they may miss opportunities to practise reasoning, attention and problem-solving.”
He further said, “In adults, excessive reliance on AI may similarly reduce opportunities to practise remembering information and analysing things independently. Each time we try to recall something we have learnt, we help strengthen the brain connections involved in memory. However, there is currently insufficient evidence to conclude that AI use directly causes permanent memory loss or physical damage to the brain.”
Explaining how AI should be used, he said, “The key distinction is between using AI to support learning and using it to replace the learning process. Asking questions, critically evaluating answers and attempting problems independently remain important. AI can be a valuable tool, but it should complement our thinking abilities rather than replace the mental effort involved in developing them.”
How the brain learns and remembers
Describing how different brain regions work together, Dr Symss said, “Learning involves several interconnected brain regions. The hippocampus plays a key role in forming new memories, while the prefrontal cortex helps regulate attention, working memory, planning and reasoning. Together with other brain networks, these regions help us process new information, connect it with existing knowledge and retrieve it when needed.”
He added, “Actively recalling information and solving problems engage these processes and can improve memory retention. This is why attempting to remember or apply information independently can be more effective for learning than simply reading an answer repeatedly.”
What research says about AI and the brain
On the effect of relying on AI for answers, the doctor said, “When we rely on AI to provide answers without attempting to recall information or reason through a problem ourselves, we may get fewer opportunities to practise those cognitive skills. The concern is that repeated dependence could affect how well we perform certain tasks independently, particularly if we stop practising them.”
He clarified, “However, reduced mental effort does not automatically mean that neural connections are being damaged. Research on AI use and cognition is still developing, and there is currently insufficient evidence to conclude that regular AI use causes lasting damage to the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex or their neural connections. Its long-term effects on memory, independent reasoning and brain function remain uncertain.”
Less practice versus changes in the brain
Asked whether reduced practice and measurable brain changes are different, Dr Symss said, “Yes, these are different things. A person may become less practised at recalling information or solving problems independently without necessarily experiencing measurable changes in brain structure. The brain’s ability to adapt through neuroplasticity supports learning and skill development, and regular practice of active recall, reasoning and problem-solving can improve performance in these areas.”
He added, “This is especially relevant for children and young adults, whose cognitive abilities are still developing. AI can be useful for explaining difficult concepts and providing feedback, but it should complement independent thinking rather than replace the effort involved in learning, remembering and solving problems.”
Disclaimer: This article is based on the research and inputs shared by the doctor mentioned above and is intended for informational purposes only. The findings should not be considered medical advice or used for self-diagnosis or treatment. Consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.