Latest news with #EEG
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Is Using ChatGPT to Write Your Essay Bad for Your Brain?
TIME reporter Andrew Chow discussed the findings of a new study about how ChatGPT affects critical thinking with Nataliya Kosymyna. Kosymyna was part of a team of researchers at MIT's Media Lab who set out to determine whether ChatGPT and large language models (LLMs) are eroding critical thinking, and the study returned some concerning results. The study divided 54 subjects into three groups, and asked them to write several essays using OpenAI's ChatGPT, Google's search engine, and nothing at all, respectively. Researchers used an EEG to record the writers' brain activity. What they found was that of the three groups, the ChatGPT users had the lowest brain engagement and consistently underperformed at neural, linguistic and behavioral levels. Over the course of several months, the ChatGPT users got lazier with each subsequent essay, often resorting to copy and paste. Contact us at letters@
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Medical research has huge role in patient care: Gadkari
Nagpur: "Integrated development is crucial in any sector, and for that, continuous research is crucial. In the medical field too, new research has significantly contributed to patient care," said Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari while inaugurating the National Paediatric Epilepsy Conclave jointly organised by Maharashtra Academy of Paediatric Neurology and Indian Epilepsy Society in Nagpur on Friday. The inaugural session saw the presence of leading doctors including IAP national president Dr Vasant Khalatkar, Dr Pramod Giri, Dr Lokendra Singh, Dr Amarjeet Wagh, Dr Wankhede, Dr Vinayan, and Dr Vilas Jadhav. Gadkari said, "Nagpur is at the heart of India, and I am truly pleased that a significant conclave on paediatric neurology is being held here. The use of advanced technology and science in the medical field is invaluable. New research in medical science, coupled with doctors' experience, is playing a crucial role in treating many previously incurable diseases." He noted that the city is moving steadily towards becoming a health hub. "Being centrally located, Nagpur is increasingly attracting patients from neighbouring states for medical treatment," he added. Gadkari emphasised that forward-looking research is essential in every field, including medicine, and proudly noted how Indian doctors have earned significant acclaim in the United States and Europe. Before the formal inaugural ceremony, the conference featured several scientific sessions on paediatric neurology. Topics covered included neonatal seizures, challenges in managing drug-resistant epilepsy, epilepsy surgery in children, genetic testing and its implications in paediatric epilepsy, and role of advanced neuroimaging in epilepsy diagnosis. Dr Wagh said that experts from across the world will be in Nagpur for the next two days to share practical insights and the latest updates aimed at improving diagnosis and treatment outcomes for children with epilepsy and neurological conditions. "This event has brought together paediatric neurologists, epilepsy specialists, and healthcare professionals from across the country, aiming to enhance knowledge sharing and collaboration in the management of childhood neurological disorders," said Dr Wagh. Discussions to be held on Saturday: - Status epilepticus management protocols - Ketogenic diet therapy in epilepsy - Neurodevelopmental outcomes in children with epilepsy - Psychological and social aspects of pediatric epilepsy - Workshops on EEG interpretation in children
Time Magazine
10 hours ago
- Science
- Time Magazine
Is Using ChatGPT to Write Your Essay Bad for Your Brain?
TIME reporter Andrew Chow discussed the findings of a new study about how ChatGPT affects critical thinking with Nataliya Kosymyna. Kosymyna was part of a team of researchers at MIT's Media Lab who set out to determine whether ChatGPT and large language models (LLMs) are eroding critical thinking, and the study returned some concerning results. The study divided 54 subjects into three groups, and asked them to write several essays using OpenAI's ChatGPT, Google's search engine, and nothing at all, respectively. Researchers used an EEG to record the writers' brain activity. What they found was that of the three groups, the ChatGPT users had the lowest brain engagement and consistently underperformed at neural, linguistic and behavioral levels. Over the course of several months, the ChatGPT users got lazier with each subsequent essay, often resorting to copy and paste.
Business Wire
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Alto Neuroscience Identifies Biomarker and Reports Positive Pharmacodynamic Results from Exploratory Phase 2 Proof-of-Concept Trial of ALTO-203
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alto Neuroscience, Inc. ('Alto') (NYSE: ANRO) a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel precision medicines for neuropsychiatric disorders, today announced the identification of a patient selection biomarker and positive pharmacodynamic results from its exploratory Phase 2 proof-of-concept (POC) trial of ALTO-203 in major depressive disorder (MDD) patients with elevated levels of anhedonia. ALTO-203 is a novel, oral, histamine H3 inverse agonist, designed to modulate circuits underlying cognition, wakefulness, and alertness. The profile exhibited by ALTO-203 in the exploratory POC trial demonstrated clear effects on objective measures of attention and wakefulness, with observed improvements linked to changes in the EEG theta/beta ratio—a biomarker indexing cortical arousal and attentional control. These findings replicate results from the Phase 1 study in healthy volunteers, where ALTO-203 treatment led to improvements in sustained attention and reductions in the EEG theta/beta ratio. Baseline EEG theta/beta ratio predicted attentional benefits of ALTO-203 in both the Phase 1 study and Phase 2 POC trial. 'We aim to leverage objective biomarkers to enable targeted neuropsychiatric drug development so that patients can get better, faster,' said Amit Etkin, M.D., Ph.D., founder and CEO of Alto Neuroscience. 'In this exploratory trial, we identified a robust biomarker for ALTO-203, EEG high-theta/beta ratio, which is a well-validated measure of abnormal cortical arousal and poor attentional control. Notably, this biomarker is FDA-cleared for use alongside clinical evaluation in the diagnosis of ADHD, reinforcing its clinical relevance. These positive results replicate findings from an ALTO-203 Phase 1 study and enhance our understanding of the patient subtypes most likely to benefit from the drug, further strengthening the foundation of our precision psychiatry approach. We believe our platform has the potential to enable data-driven indication selection and trial design early in development—accelerating the path to more effective, personalized treatment.' The exploratory Phase 2 POC trial, which enrolled 69 patients, was conducted in two sequential, double-blind, placebo-controlled periods. The trial was designed to characterize the pharmacodynamic, pharmacokinetic, safety, and tolerability profile of ALTO-203 across two dose levels compared to placebo in a crossover design and was not powered to detect statistical significance on traditional depression outcome scales (e.g., MADRS). Adam Savitz, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer of Alto Neuroscience, commented, 'We are encouraged by the positive pharmacodynamic activity observed in the study, which aligns with the proposed mechanism of ALTO-203. The wake-promoting and pro-cognitive effects demonstrated, suggest clear potential for ALTO-203 to be a meaningful treatment across various neuropsychiatric conditions in which sleep and attention are significantly impaired.' Topline, prespecified results from the exploratory Phase 2 POC trial of ALTO-203 include: Subjective Effects on Bond & Lader Visual Analog Scale (BL-VAS): Patients reported significant improvements from baseline on BL-VAS for alertness & mood at the 5-hour timepoint post dosing with ALTO-203. A higher-than-expected placebo response was observed on the Bond & Lader measurements – no significant separation between ALTO-203 and placebo was observed. EEG Biomarker of Drug Effect Identified: The theta/beta ratio, a neurophysiological marker linked to attentional control, was confirmed as a key pharmacodynamic readout. The effects of ALTO-203 on reducing theta/beta ratio were significant compared to placebo (25µg: p<0.05). This marker was previously shown to be significantly reduced by ALTO-203 in the completed Phase 1 study in healthy subjects, as well as in preclinical studies. Cognitive Enhancement Observed: ALTO-203 treatment led to significant improvements in sustained attention (25µg: p<0.05; 75µg: p=0.06 vs. placebo), aligning with reductions in the EEG theta/beta ratio. Improvement in attention was greatest in patients with high baseline theta/beta ratios (i.e., more abnormal) (25µg: p<0.01; 75µg: p<0.05 vs. placebo). The observed improvements in attention and corresponding changes in EEG theta/beta ratio replicated significant findings from the Phase 1 study. Wearable Device Confirmation: Objective sleep measures from wearable devices supported the wake-promoting effects of ALTO-203, and the increased wakefulness exhibited by ALTO-203 was significant for both doses (25µg: p<0.05; 75µg: p<0.001 vs. placebo). Pharmacokinetics and Safety: ALTO-203 displayed predictable accumulation over multiple doses with no adverse pharmacokinetic signals. ALTO-203 was well tolerated, with insomnia as the most frequent adverse event, consistent with its wake-promoting profile. MADRS Improvements: Patients taking 25µg of ALTO-203 exhibited a mean improvement of 2 points at week 3 and 0.9 points at week 4 compared to placebo. The differences were not observed in the 75µg dose group. MADRS improvements were evaluated during the 28-day multi-dose period, which was not powered to detect significance. Alto plans to report additional results from this exploratory study at a future medical meeting and expects to determine the next development steps for ALTO-203 following the complete analysis of the data set. About the Phase 2 POC Trial of ALTO-203 The Phase 2 POC trial enrolled 69 MDD patients with higher levels of anhedonia consisted of two dosing periods (63 completed the primary single-dose period): Single-dose period: Patients received two single-doses of ALTO-203 (25µg and 75µg), and placebo in a randomized, three-way crossover design. The powered primary outcome was an acute change in positive emotion assessed by the alertness and mood components of the Bond-Lader Visual Analog Scale (BL-VAS), an established scale of subjective feelings. Key pre-specified exploratory outcomes included measures of cognition, EEG changes, and effects on sleep. Multi-dose period: Patients were randomized to receive daily administration of ALTO-203 (25µg or 75µg QD) or placebo over 28 days. This period was designed to evaluate extended safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics, as well as exploratory biomarkers across EEG, cognitive testing, and wearable device data. About Alto Neuroscience Alto Neuroscience is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a mission to redefine psychiatry by leveraging neurobiology to develop personalized and highly effective treatment options. Alto's Precision Psychiatry Platform™ measures brain biomarkers by analyzing EEG activity, neurocognitive assessments, wearable data, and other factors to better identify which patients are more likely to respond to Alto product candidates. Alto's clinical-stage pipeline includes novel drug candidates in bipolar depression, major depressive disorder, treatment resistant depression (TRD), and schizophrenia, and other mental health conditions. For more information, visit or follow Alto on X. Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by words such as 'expects,' 'plans,' 'will' and variations of these words or similar expressions that are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Alto's expectations about the potential benefits, activity, effectiveness and safety of its product candidates and Precision Psychiatry Platform ('Platform'); the reproducibility of any favorable results seen in the exploratory Phase 2 POC trial of ALTO-203 in major depressive disorder; and Alto's expectations with regard to the design and results of its clinical trials. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including uncertainties inherent in the initiation, progress and completion of clinical trials and other important factors, any of which could cause Alto's actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, which are described in greater detail in the section titled 'Risk Factors' in Alto's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ('SEC') as well as in other filings Alto may make with the SEC in the future. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and Alto expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether because of any new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise, except as required by law. Availability of Information on Alto's Website Alto routinely uses its investor relations website to post presentations to investors and other important information, including information that may be material. Accordingly, Alto encourages investors and others interested in Alto to review the information it makes public on its investor relations website.
New York Post
3 days ago
- Science
- New York Post
Educators warn that AI shortcuts are already making kids lazy: ‘Critical thinking and attention spans have been demolished'
A new MIT study suggests that AI is degrading critical thinking skills — which does not surprise educators one bit. 'Brain atrophy does occur, and it's obvious,' Dr. Susan Schneider, founding director of the Center for the Future Mind at Florida Atlantic University, told The Post. 'Talk to any professor in the humanities or social sciences and they will tell you that students who just throw in a prompt and hand in their paper are not learning. ' 11 The MIT study used EEG scans to analyze brain activity in the three groups as they wrote their essays. Researchers at MIT's Media Lab found that individuals who wrote essays with the help of ChatGPT showed less brain activity while completing the task, committed less to memory and grew gradually lazier in the writing process over time. A group of 54 18- to 39-year-olds were split into three cohort — one using ChatGPT, one using Google search and one 'brain-only' — and asked to write four SAT essays over the course of four months. Scientists monitored their brain activity under EEG scans and found that the ChatGPT group had the lowest brain engagement when writing and showed lower executive control and attention levels. 11 Dr. Susan Schneider says heavy AI use is degrading her students' thinking skills. Over four sessions, the participants in the study's Chat GPT group started to use AI differently. At first, they generally asked for broad and minimal help, like with structure. But near the end of the study period, they were more likely to resort to copying and pasting entire sections of writing. Murphy Kenefick, a high-school literature teacher in Nashville, said he has seen first-hand how students' 'critical thinking and attention spans have been demolished by AI. 'It's especially a problem with essays, and it's a fight every assignment,' he told The Post. 'I've caught it about 40 times, and who knows how many other times they've gotten away with it.' 11 Eight researchers affiliated with the MIT Media Lab complex carried out the study over four months. Andy Ryan/ MIT 11 Experts are concerned that students who grow up with AI could have their thinking skills especially stunted. – In the MIT study, the 'brain-only' group had the 'strongest, wide-ranging networks' in their brain scans, showing heightened activity in regions associated with creativity, memory and language processing. They also expressed more engagement, satisfaction and ownership of their work. 'There is a strong negative correlation between AI tool usage and critical thinking skills, with younger users exhibiting higher dependence on AI tools and consequently lower cognitive performance scores,' the study's authors warn. 'The impact extends beyond academic settings into broader cognitive development.' Asked to rewrite prior essays, the ChatGPT group was least able to recall them, suggesting they didn't commit them to memory as strongly as other groups. 11 High-school literature teacher Murphy Kenefick fears his students wouldn't even care about the study's findings. Courtest of Murphy Kenefick 11 Nataliya Kosmyna of MIT Media Labs was the lead researcher for the study. MIT The ChatGPT group also tended to produce more similar essays, prompting two English teachers brought in to evaluate the essays to characterize them as 'soulless' — something teachers all over the country say they are seeing more regularly. Robert Black, who retired last week from teaching AP and IB high school history in Canandaigua, New York, said that the last two years of his 34-year career were a 'nightmare because of ChatGPT.' 'When caught, kids just shrug,' he said. 'They can't even fathom why it is wrong or why the writing process is important.' 11 Researchers and experts are especially concerned about the degradation of critical thinking skills in young people due to AI usage. Gorodenkoff – 11 The MIT study found that subjects within the ChatGPT group tended to produce more similar essays, prompting two English teachers brought in to evaluate the essays to characterize them as 'soulless' Inna – Black also points out AI has only worsened a gradual trend of degrading skills that he attributes to smartphones. 'Even before ChatGPT it was harder and harder to get them to think out a piece of writing — brainstorming, organizing and composing,' he told The Post. 'Now that has become a total fool's errand.' Psychologist Jean Twenge, the author of '10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World,' agrees that AI is just one additional barrier to learning for Gen Z and Gen Alpha. She points out that international math, reading and science standardized test scores have been on the decline for years, which she attributes to pandemic lockdown and the advent of smartphones and social media. 11 Dr. Jean Twenge says that smartphones and now artificial intelligence pose a threat to youth learning. 11 Dr. Jean M. Twenge is author of the forthcoming book '10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World.' 'With the addition of AI, academic performance will likely decline further, as students who regularly use AI to write essays are not learning how to write,' Twenge told The Post. 'When you don't learn how to write, you don't learn how to think deeply.' The MIT study study was spearheaded by Media Lab research scientist Nataliya Kosmyna, who told Time Magazine that 'developing brains are at the highest risk.' While Toby Walsh, Chief Scientist at the University of New South Wales AI Institute in Sydney, Australia, acknowledges that the study's findings are frightening, he also warns educators against outright banning it. 11 AI professor Toby Walsh says that educators need to learn to integrate AI carefully. 'We have to be mindful that there are great opportunities. I'm actually incredibly jealous of what students have today,' Walsh said, recalling his 15-year-old daughter recently using an AI voice to ask her questions in French as a study aide. 'I don't think we should be banning AI,' Walsh said. But, he added, 'the concern is that AI surpasses human intelligence, not because AI got better but because human intelligence got worse.' Kenefick, meanwhile, imagines his students 'wouldn't care' about the study's findings: 'They just want the grade. They see no real incentive to develop any useful skills. It's very troubling.'
