In the wake of the news that using ChatGPT and other large language models (LLMs) are bad for our brains (I’m shocked!) here is some good news.
Communication is good for our brains – yet another reason why we should invest time, energy and resources into doing it well.
But first the bad news, research from MIT concluded that “LLM users consistently underperformed at neural, linguistic, and behavioral levels.”
One way to think about this is to draw a comparison between brain health and physical health.
If you don’t exercise and eat highly processed food, you will be less healthy than someone who works on their fitness and eats whole foods often.
If you don’t use your brain to solve problems, be creative and actively find ways to build connections then your brain will be less healthy.
AI is here. There is no going back.
But just as we will stand out if we are excellent at communicating, building deep connections and bonds with others, we will also benefit from healthier brains if we make good communication a fundamental to how we live and work.
Specifically, here are three ways to boost your brains through good communication.
Boost your neural pathways
This is neuroplasticity and is basically the fact that every time we learn something new our brain forms new connections between neurons and strengthens existing neural pathways.
Challenge yourself to learn new ways to connect with the people that matter to you. How will you truly engage that audience and motivate them to take the action you want?
Will you volunteer to present to your board for the first time? Attend a networking event and try out new ways of having good conversations? Or become a spokesperson active on industry panels?
Whatever you do, make sure it is a new way of communicating you need to learn and practice.
Enhance your linguistic powers
You will have better linguistic skills if you actively practice reading, writing, speaking and listening instead of outsourcing.
Have conversations. Speak to strangers. Ask questions and be interested in other people. It is something I have been purposely working on for a while now. As a result, I am asking much better questions and having far more enjoyable conversations because of the effort I have put into getting better.
The same goes for writing. Writing is hard. It takes patience, practice and deep thought that in modern life is increasingly rare.
Putting an argument together and holding a reader’s attention needs content that is engaging. Equally it is only possible if we have properly understood an idea we are trying to share.
I write to learn and to share ideas that I hope will help others but also because I know that the process is good for me.
Be more human, less dog (or even reptile)
The behavioural levels of your brain refer to how your brain responds or reacts to the outside world.
When we react ‘without thinking’ then our reptile brain has taken over. This is our flight or fight reaction and other physical sensations which put us on alert.
Your dog brain is your emotional response to a situation and is impulsive or intuitive.
The human brain is us responding in a rational way and helps us to thrive through making considered choices.
By being self-aware, focussed on the other person and using empathy you will be more human. You can do this in how you plan for, approach and navigate your conversations.
By recognizing the kind of conversation you are having, by actively listening and following up or looping for understanding instead of just waiting for your turn to speak.
Like me you are probably using AI tools more and more in your work. But this does not have to mean that as the power of AI increases your brain power falls.
Communicate more. Communicate better.
Your brain will thank you for it.