Let your brain lead (Brain-to-LLM)
Introduction
Large Language Models (LLMs) are increasingly impacting our daily lives, transforming how we work, learn, and interact with technology.
Adoption is growing rapidly, with LLMs becoming integral to personal knowledge management, productivity, and even entertainment. This widespread adoption is reshaping our lifestyles, from how we access information and manage tasks to how we learn and communicate.
The study
MIT’s 2025 study “Your brain on ChatGPT” used neuroimaging and behavioral data to analyze how people’s brains react to using AI for essay writing.
When participants started writing with the help of ChatGPT, their brains showed lower neural activity, particularly in regions associated with deep thought, memory formation, and critical evaluation.
These participants also remembered less about what they wrote or read compared to those who worked unaided or used AI only later in the process.
Students or writers who began their projects with their own brainstorming, outlining, or drafting (using “brain-only” strategies) and then later brought in AI for refinement or contrasting ideas showed:
- Higher creativity and memory retention
- More complex neural connectivity
- Better long-term understanding of the content
Dive more into the study here.
Key takeaways & how to apply them
After talking with some friends, we agreed that people are growing comfortable, but in a negative sense, they’re becoming increasingly passive instead of actively leading the way.
1. Shift your mindset
Technology isn’t the problem, it’s how you use it. Don’t let LLMs lead your thinking. Do everything with intention and awareness; use AI to review, challenge, and expand your ideas, not to generate everything for you.
2. Sketch first, digitize later
Start every project by mapping your ideas with pen and paper, a notebook, or even a google docs, anything that’s just your thoughts. Give your brain the workout before inviting AI into the process.
3. Always contrast & validate
LLMs can seem magical for their speed, but mistakes and fabrications happen. Do your own research, verify every claim, and don’t assume the AI is infallible. Remember: LLMs can “hallucinate”, creating plausible but false information.
4. Make time for independent thinking
Schedule moments for solo brainstorming and reflection before you bring your ideas to AI. Keep a side notebook (digital or paper) nearby so it’s easy to jot, plan, and reflect away from the chatbot.
5. Be the Leader, not the passenger
You are the author; treat AI as your smart co-editor or co-pilot, not the main driver (It’s not a Tesla). Technology can assist and accelerate, but your judgment and creativity should always set the course.
Conclusion
Keep looking for new studies, learn from their findings, and incorporate those insights into your own process to perform better.
Technology will always be at the forefront.
As humans, we should make sure our brains are at the forefront alongside it.
