Neuropsychological Profile of Adolescent Frequent Users of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Abstract

This study analyzes the neuropsychological profile of adolescent frequent users of generative artificial intelligence (AI), considering that adolescence constitutes a critical period for the maturation of prefrontal executive functions and that AI technologies introduce novel modes of cognitive offloading that could interfere with normative neurodevelopmental trajectories. The main objective was to characterize the associations between patterns of generative AI use and performance in executive functions and metacognition in an adolescent population. A non-experimental, descriptive-correlational, cross-sectional design was conducted with 73 adolescents aged 13 to 18 years, evaluated using the Neuropsychological Battery of Executive Functions and Frontal Lobes (BANFE-3), the Metacognitive Awareness Inventory (MAI), the Critical Thinking Disposition Scale (CTDS), and a generative AI usage patterns questionnaire. Results revealed significant negative correlations between frequency of AI use and performance associated with the anterior and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, with larger effect sizes observed in metamemory, productivity, working memory, and planning. Adolescents who use AI as cognitive substitution displayed significantly lower metacognitive levels compared to users who utilize it as scaffolding. Analyses revealed that the type of technological dependence was the strongest predictor of metacognitive level, explaining an additional 31.5% of the variance beyond sociodemographic variables. In conclusion, the mode of interaction with generative AI is decisive for the development of self-regulatory capacities, highlighting the need for psychoeducational interventions aimed at promoting adaptive usage patterns during critical periods of adolescent neurodevelopment.