Are AI tools making you forgetful and dull? Here's how to prevent a brain burnout

Indian Express

3 days ago

Dr Prabash Prabhakaran
The other day, a 26-year-old software engineer from Bengaluru came to see me because she was worried about something I'm hearing more and more, 'I feel mentally lazy,' she said. She didn't have a memory problem. No headaches either. There were no neurological warning signs. However, something had changed. Once shrewd and confident, she now relied on AI apps and tools for everything, from brainstorming meeting ideas to client emails and code snippets.
She became aware over the months that she was losing her ability to remember things. She would repeatedly ask AI the same questions, lose track of technical concepts and forget project details. What was causing her the most distress? She declared, 'I've lost my curiosity. Besides, why think when I can get it done by someone else?'
Her situation exemplified cognitive disuse, which is the process by which the brain dulls like a muscle left unworked. The mental cost of continuously outsourcing our ability to think, remember and make decisions is known as cognitive debt. It's like skipping out on exercise; if you don't go to the gym long enough, your muscles will weaken. Similarly, when we stop pushing our brains, they become less resilient.
This change takes time to manifest. It's not about getting lost on the way home or forgetting your birthday. It begins subtly: You become distracted without reminders or prompts, lose your train of thought in the middle of a sentence or find it difficult to remember something you used to know by heart. I still recall a specific patient saying, 'I no longer trust my brain.'
What causes this dullness?
Our brains are made to think deeply, remember things and solve problems. The neural pathways supporting these abilities are strengthened each time they are stretched. The great thing about neuroplasticity is that it gets stronger the more you use it. However, those circuits aren't triggered when AI takes over the mental labour. This can eventually impair mental acuity, concentration and independent thought, particularly in young adults whose brains are still developing.
Therefore, the true question is not whether AI causes forgetfulness but rather whether we are utilising it in ways that contradict or replace our own thought processes.
The silent burnout
Physical exhaustion is not the same as cognitive fatigue. It's a silent feeling of dreariness, like fog. A few indicators are requiring reminders to complete basic tasks, ignoring what you just read, mentally 'flat' even after taking a break or losing interest in critical thinking or problem-solving. Classrooms, workplaces and homes are all experiencing what Riya did. Our active thinking starts to wane as we consume passively.
How then does one strengthen one's mind?
AI shouldn't replace thought, just as calculators didn't replace math. Instead of being a crutch, it ought to be a tool. The following are a few easy yet effective methods to improve your cognitive fitness:
1. Intentional recall: Before searching, take a moment to try and recall.
2. Active participation: Don't replace your ideas with AI; use it to test them.
3. Mental exercises: Include deep reading, crossword puzzles and logic games.
4. Tech sabbaticals: Unplug frequently to allow your thoughts to roam.
Not only do we lose speed when we allow a machine to think for us, we also lose sharpness. Let's remember to think independently in a world full of intelligent tools and instant prompts. The human brain, which was designed to be used, continues to be our most potent processor.
(The author is senior consultant and Director of Neurology, SIMS Hospital, Chennai)