Latest news with #EEGs
Yahoo
a day ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Researchers Scanned the Brains of ChatGPT Users and Found Something Deeply Alarming
Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have found some startling results in the brain scans of ChatGPT users, adding to the growing body of evidence suggesting that AI is having a serious — and barely-understood — impact on its users' cognition even as it explodes in popularity worldwide. In a new paper currently awaiting peer review, researchers from the school's storied Media Lab documented the vast differences between the brain activity of people who using ChatGPT to write versus those who did not. The research team recruited 54 adults between the ages of 18 and 39 and divided them into three groups: one that used ChatGPT to help them write essays, one that used Google search as their main writing aid, and one that didn't use AI tech. The study took place over four months, with each group tasked with writing one essay per month for the first three, while a smaller subset of the cohort either switched from not using ChatGPT to using it — or vice versa — in the fourth month. As they completed the essay tasks, the participants were hooked up to electroencephalogram (EEG) machines that recorded their brain activity. Here's where things get wild: the ChatGPT group not only "consistently underperformed at neural, linguistic, and behavioral levels," but also got lazier with each essay they wrote; the EEGs found "weaker neural connectivity and under-engagement of alpha and beta networks." The Google-assisted group, meanwhile, had "moderate" neural engagement, while the "brain-only" group exhibited the strongest cognitive metrics throughout. These findings about brain activity, while novel, aren't entirely surprising after prior studies and anecdotes about the many ways that AI chatbot use seems to be affecting people's brains and minds. Previous MIT research, for instance, found that ChatGPT "power users" were becoming dependent on the chatbot and experiencing "indicators of addiction" and "withdrawal symptoms" when they were cut off. And earlier this year Carnegie Mellon and Microsoft — which has invested billions to bankroll OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT — found in a joint study that heavy chatbot use appears to almost atrophy critical thinking skills. A few months later, The Guardian found in an analysis of studies like that one that researchers are growing increasingly concerned that tech like ChatGPT is making us stupider, and a Wall Street Journal reporter even owned up to his cognitive skill loss from over-using chatbots. Beyond the neurological impacts, there are also lots of reasons to be concerned about how ChatGPT and other chatbots like it affects our mental health. As Futurism found in a recent investigation, many users are becoming obsessed with ChatGPT and developing paranoid delusions into which the chatbot is pushing them deeper. Some have even stopped taking their psychiatric medication because the chatbot told them to. "We know people use ChatGPT in a wide range of contexts, including deeply personal moments, and we take that responsibility seriously," OpenAI told us in response to that reporting. "We've built in safeguards to reduce the chance it reinforces harmful ideas, and continue working to better recognize and respond to sensitive situations." Add it all up, and the evidence is growing that AI is having profound and alarming effects on many users — but so far, we're seeing no evidence that corporations are slowing down in their attempts to injecting the tech into every part of of society. More on ChatGPT brain: Nation Cringes as Man Goes on TV to Declare That He's in Love With ChatGPT
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
UHN study finds patients diagnosed with New Brunswick "mystery brain disease" have diagnosable neurological conditions
TORONTO, May 7, 2025 /CNW/ - A study published today in JAMA Neurology has found patients previously diagnosed with a "mystery brain disease" that emerged in New Brunswick, Canada, had known neurological conditions—some involving brain cell damage, such as dementia, and others not involving degeneration, like head injuries. 'Involving input from various health care professionals such as neurologists, psychologists, and rehabilitation specialists can play a vital role in guiding patients through complex and uncertain diagnostic journeys,' says Dr. Anthony Lang, neurologist, Senior Scientist at UHN's Krembil Brain Institute and senior author of the study. (Credit: University Health Network) (CNW Group/University Health Network) Led by Dr. Anthony Lang, a neurologist and Senior Scientist at University Health Network's (UHN) Krembil Brain Institute, the study was a collaboration between Horizon Health Network in New Brunswick and UHN in Toronto. It involved a detailed clinical and pathological (post-mortem tissue) analysis of 25 individuals previously labeled as having New Brunswick Neurological Syndrome of Unknown Cause (NSUC). Researchers conducted independent clinical evaluations of 14 patients and autopsy evaluations of 11 deceased individuals. Most of the 105 patients originally identified either did not respond or declined the offer for further investigation. "We found that what had been termed a 'mystery brain disease' was, in fact, a collection of identifiable medical conditions," said Dr. Lang. "These included well-characterized neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, dementia, traumatic brain injury, and functional neurological disorder, a condition where physical symptoms like tremors or memory issues occur without clear structural brain damage." The research team reviewed clinical records and diagnostic tests—including MRI scans, brain blood flow studies, and electroencephalograms (EEGs), which measure electrical activity in the brain—spanning from 2019 to 2025. They found no evidence of a novel or previously unidentified disease in any of the 25 cases. The study also revealed significant discrepancies in many cases between the original clinical documentation and the findings from the second, independent assessments. Some diagnoses leaned too heavily on specific tests without enough clinical context on certain diagnostic tests. In all 25 cases, researchers found no evidence of a new disease. "By analyzing the data, we were able to clarify the specific conditions contributing to the patients' symptoms," said Dr. Nathaniel Bendahan, a UHN Clinical Research Fellow at the time and first author of this study. "Rather than a single new disease, we found a range of distinct neurological diseases." The findings underscore the importance of expert second opinions in complex or uncertain neurological cases—especially when initial diagnoses are unclear.
Malaysian Reserve
07-05-2025
- Health
- Malaysian Reserve
UHN study finds patients diagnosed with New Brunswick "mystery brain disease" have diagnosable neurological conditions
TORONTO, May 7, 2025 /CNW/ – A study published today in JAMA Neurology has found patients previously diagnosed with a 'mystery brain disease' that emerged in New Brunswick, Canada, had known neurological conditions—some involving brain cell damage, such as dementia, and others not involving degeneration, like head injuries. UHN study finds patients diagnosed with New Brunswick 'mystery brain disease' have diagnosable neurological conditions Led by Dr. Anthony Lang, a neurologist and Senior Scientist at University Health Network's (UHN) Krembil Brain Institute, the study was a collaboration between Horizon Health Network in New Brunswick and UHN in Toronto. It involved a detailed clinical and pathological (post-mortem tissue) analysis of 25 individuals previously labeled as having New Brunswick Neurological Syndrome of Unknown Cause (NSUC). Researchers conducted independent clinical evaluations of 14 patients and autopsy evaluations of 11 deceased individuals. Most of the 105 patients originally identified either did not respond or declined the offer for further investigation. 'We found that what had been termed a 'mystery brain disease' was, in fact, a collection of identifiable medical conditions,' said Dr. Lang. 'These included well-characterized neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, dementia, traumatic brain injury, and functional neurological disorder, a condition where physical symptoms like tremors or memory issues occur without clear structural brain damage.' The research team reviewed clinical records and diagnostic tests—including MRI scans, brain blood flow studies, and electroencephalograms (EEGs), which measure electrical activity in the brain—spanning from 2019 to 2025. They found no evidence of a novel or previously unidentified disease in any of the 25 cases. The study also revealed significant discrepancies in many cases between the original clinical documentation and the findings from the second, independent assessments. Some diagnoses leaned too heavily on specific tests without enough clinical context on certain diagnostic tests. In all 25 cases, researchers found no evidence of a new disease. 'By analyzing the data, we were able to clarify the specific conditions contributing to the patients' symptoms,' said Dr. Nathaniel Bendahan, a UHN Clinical Research Fellow at the time and first author of this study. 'Rather than a single new disease, we found a range of distinct neurological diseases.' The findings underscore the importance of expert second opinions in complex or uncertain neurological cases—especially when initial diagnoses are unclear. 'Involving input from various health care professionals such as neurologists, psychologists, and rehabilitation specialists can play a vital role in guiding patients through complex and uncertain diagnostic journeys,' added Dr. Lang. About the Krembil Brain Institute The Krembil Brain Institute at Toronto Western Hospital, part of University Health Network, is home to one of the world's largest and most comprehensive teams of physicians and scientists uniquely working hand-in-hand to prevent and confront problems of the brain and spine. One in three Canadians will experience a brain-related condition such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's or epilepsy in their lifetime. Through state-of-the-art patient care and advanced research, we are working relentlessly to find new treatments and cures. For more information, visit: About University Health Network UHN is Canada's No. 1 hospital and the world's No. 1 publicly funded hospital. With 10 sites and more than 44,000 TeamUHN members, UHN consists of Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, The Michener Institute of Education and West Park Healthcare Centre. As Canada's top research hospital, the scope of biomedical research and complexity of cases at UHN have made it a national and international source for discovery, education, and patient care. UHN has the largest hospital-based research program in Canada, with major research in neurosciences, cardiology, transplantation, oncology, surgical innovation, infectious diseases, genomic medicine and rehabilitation medicine. UHN is a research hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto. For more information, visit: SOURCE University Health Network
Cision Canada
07-05-2025
- Health
- Cision Canada
UHN study finds patients diagnosed with New Brunswick "mystery brain disease" have diagnosable neurological conditions
TORONTO, May 7, 2025 /CNW/ - A study published today in JAMA Neurology has found patients previously diagnosed with a "mystery brain disease" that emerged in New Brunswick, Canada, had known neurological conditions—some involving brain cell damage, such as dementia, and others not involving degeneration, like head injuries. Led by Dr. Anthony Lang, a neurologist and Senior Scientist at University Health Network's (UHN) Krembil Brain Institute, the study was a collaboration between Horizon Health Network in New Brunswick and UHN in Toronto. It involved a detailed clinical and pathological (post-mortem tissue) analysis of 25 individuals previously labeled as having New Brunswick Neurological Syndrome of Unknown Cause (NSUC). Researchers conducted independent clinical evaluations of 14 patients and autopsy evaluations of 11 deceased individuals. Most of the 105 patients originally identified either did not respond or declined the offer for further investigation. "We found that what had been termed a 'mystery brain disease' was, in fact, a collection of identifiable medical conditions," said Dr. Lang. "These included well-characterized neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, dementia, traumatic brain injury, and functional neurological disorder, a condition where physical symptoms like tremors or memory issues occur without clear structural brain damage." The research team reviewed clinical records and diagnostic tests—including MRI scans, brain blood flow studies, and electroencephalograms (EEGs), which measure electrical activity in the brain—spanning from 2019 to 2025. They found no evidence of a novel or previously unidentified disease in any of the 25 cases. The study also revealed significant discrepancies in many cases between the original clinical documentation and the findings from the second, independent assessments. Some diagnoses leaned too heavily on specific tests without enough clinical context on certain diagnostic tests. In all 25 cases, researchers found no evidence of a new disease. "By analyzing the data, we were able to clarify the specific conditions contributing to the patients' symptoms," said Dr. Nathaniel Bendahan, a UHN Clinical Research Fellow at the time and first author of this study. "Rather than a single new disease, we found a range of distinct neurological diseases." The findings underscore the importance of expert second opinions in complex or uncertain neurological cases—especially when initial diagnoses are unclear. "Involving input from various health care professionals such as neurologists, psychologists, and rehabilitation specialists can play a vital role in guiding patients through complex and uncertain diagnostic journeys," added Dr. Lang. About the Krembil Brain Institute The Krembil Brain Institute at Toronto Western Hospital, part of University Health Network, is home to one of the world's largest and most comprehensive teams of physicians and scientists uniquely working hand-in-hand to prevent and confront problems of the brain and spine. One in three Canadians will experience a brain-related condition such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's or epilepsy in their lifetime. Through state-of-the-art patient care and advanced research, we are working relentlessly to find new treatments and cures. For more information, visit: About University Health Network UHN is Canada's No. 1 hospital and the world's No. 1 publicly funded hospital. With 10 sites and more than 44,000 TeamUHN members, UHN consists of Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, The Michener Institute of Education and West Park Healthcare Centre. As Canada's top research hospital, the scope of biomedical research and complexity of cases at UHN have made it a national and international source for discovery, education, and patient care. UHN has the largest hospital-based research program in Canada, with major research in neurosciences, cardiology, transplantation, oncology, surgical innovation, infectious diseases, genomic medicine and rehabilitation medicine. UHN is a research hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto. For more information, visit:
