AI Chatbots and Cognitive Control: Enhancing Executive Functions Through Chatbot Interactions: A Systematic Review
<b>Background/Objectives</b>: The evolution of digital technology enhances the broadening of a person’s intellectual growth. Research points out that implementing innovative applications of the digital world improves human social, cognitive, and metacognitive behavior. Artificial intelli...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Pantelis Pergantis Victoria Bamicha Charalampos Skianis Athanasios Drigas |
| author_facet | Pantelis Pergantis Victoria Bamicha Charalampos Skianis Athanasios Drigas |
| author_sort | Pantelis Pergantis |
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| description | <b>Background/Objectives</b>: The evolution of digital technology enhances the broadening of a person’s intellectual growth. Research points out that implementing innovative applications of the digital world improves human social, cognitive, and metacognitive behavior. Artificial intelligence chatbots are yet another innovative human-made construct. These are forms of software that simulate human conversation, understand and process user input, and provide personalized responses. Executive function includes a set of higher mental processes necessary for formulating, planning, and achieving a goal. The present study aims to investigate executive function reinforcement through artificial intelligence chatbots, outlining potentials, limitations, and future research suggestions. Specifically, the study examined three research questions: the use of conversational chatbots in executive functioning training, their impact on executive-cognitive skills, and the duration of any improvements. <b>Methods</b>: The assessment of the existing literature was implemented using the systematic review method, according to the PRISMA 2020 Principles. The avalanche search method was employed to conduct a source search in the following databases: Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and complementary Google Scholar. This systematic review included studies from 2021 to the present using experimental, observational, or mixed methods. It included studies using AI-based chatbots or conversationalists to support executive functions, such as anxiety, stress, depression, memory, attention, cognitive load, and behavioral changes. In addition, this study included general populations with specific neurological conditions, all peer-reviewed, written in English, and with full-text access. However, the study excluded studies before 2021, the literature reviews, systematic reviews, non-AI-based chatbots or conversationalists, studies not targeting the range of executive skills and abilities, studies not written in English, and studies without open access. The criteria aligned with the study objectives, ensuring a focus on AI chatbots and the impact of conversational agents on executive function. The initial collection totaled <i>n</i> = 115 articles; however, the eligibility requirements led to the final selection of <i>n</i> = 10 studies. <b>Results</b>: The findings of the studies suggested positive effects of using AI chatbots to enhance and improve executive skills. Although, several limitations were identified, making it still difficult to generalize and reproduce their effects. <b>Conclusions</b>: AI chatbots are an innovative artificial intelligence tool that can function as a digital assistant for learning and expanding executive skills, contributing to the cognitive, metacognitive, and social development of the individual. However, its use in executive skills training is at a primary stage. The findings highlighted the need for a unified framework for reference and future studies, better study designs, diverse populations, larger sample sizes of participants, and longitudinal studies that observe the long-term effects of their use. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c5913600345d427484646afb0b805266 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-3425 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-c5913600345d427484646afb0b8052662025-01-24T13:25:48ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252025-01-011514710.3390/brainsci15010047AI Chatbots and Cognitive Control: Enhancing Executive Functions Through Chatbot Interactions: A Systematic ReviewPantelis Pergantis0Victoria Bamicha1Charalampos Skianis2Athanasios Drigas3Net Media Lab & Mind & Brain R&D, Institute of Informatics & Telecommunications, National Centre of Scientific Research ‘Demokritos’, 153 41 Agia Paraskevi, GreeceNet Media Lab & Mind & Brain R&D, Institute of Informatics & Telecommunications, National Centre of Scientific Research ‘Demokritos’, 153 41 Agia Paraskevi, GreeceDepartment of Information & Communication Systems Engineering, University of the Aegean, 832 00 Karlovasi, GreeceNet Media Lab & Mind & Brain R&D, Institute of Informatics & Telecommunications, National Centre of Scientific Research ‘Demokritos’, 153 41 Agia Paraskevi, Greece<b>Background/Objectives</b>: The evolution of digital technology enhances the broadening of a person’s intellectual growth. Research points out that implementing innovative applications of the digital world improves human social, cognitive, and metacognitive behavior. Artificial intelligence chatbots are yet another innovative human-made construct. These are forms of software that simulate human conversation, understand and process user input, and provide personalized responses. Executive function includes a set of higher mental processes necessary for formulating, planning, and achieving a goal. The present study aims to investigate executive function reinforcement through artificial intelligence chatbots, outlining potentials, limitations, and future research suggestions. Specifically, the study examined three research questions: the use of conversational chatbots in executive functioning training, their impact on executive-cognitive skills, and the duration of any improvements. <b>Methods</b>: The assessment of the existing literature was implemented using the systematic review method, according to the PRISMA 2020 Principles. The avalanche search method was employed to conduct a source search in the following databases: Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and complementary Google Scholar. This systematic review included studies from 2021 to the present using experimental, observational, or mixed methods. It included studies using AI-based chatbots or conversationalists to support executive functions, such as anxiety, stress, depression, memory, attention, cognitive load, and behavioral changes. In addition, this study included general populations with specific neurological conditions, all peer-reviewed, written in English, and with full-text access. However, the study excluded studies before 2021, the literature reviews, systematic reviews, non-AI-based chatbots or conversationalists, studies not targeting the range of executive skills and abilities, studies not written in English, and studies without open access. The criteria aligned with the study objectives, ensuring a focus on AI chatbots and the impact of conversational agents on executive function. The initial collection totaled <i>n</i> = 115 articles; however, the eligibility requirements led to the final selection of <i>n</i> = 10 studies. <b>Results</b>: The findings of the studies suggested positive effects of using AI chatbots to enhance and improve executive skills. Although, several limitations were identified, making it still difficult to generalize and reproduce their effects. <b>Conclusions</b>: AI chatbots are an innovative artificial intelligence tool that can function as a digital assistant for learning and expanding executive skills, contributing to the cognitive, metacognitive, and social development of the individual. However, its use in executive skills training is at a primary stage. The findings highlighted the need for a unified framework for reference and future studies, better study designs, diverse populations, larger sample sizes of participants, and longitudinal studies that observe the long-term effects of their use.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/15/1/47executive functionartificial intelligence chatbotconversational agents |
| spellingShingle | Pantelis Pergantis Victoria Bamicha Charalampos Skianis Athanasios Drigas AI Chatbots and Cognitive Control: Enhancing Executive Functions Through Chatbot Interactions: A Systematic Review Brain Sciences executive function artificial intelligence chatbot conversational agents |
| title | AI Chatbots and Cognitive Control: Enhancing Executive Functions Through Chatbot Interactions: A Systematic Review |
| title_full | AI Chatbots and Cognitive Control: Enhancing Executive Functions Through Chatbot Interactions: A Systematic Review |
| title_fullStr | AI Chatbots and Cognitive Control: Enhancing Executive Functions Through Chatbot Interactions: A Systematic Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | AI Chatbots and Cognitive Control: Enhancing Executive Functions Through Chatbot Interactions: A Systematic Review |
| title_short | AI Chatbots and Cognitive Control: Enhancing Executive Functions Through Chatbot Interactions: A Systematic Review |
| title_sort | ai chatbots and cognitive control enhancing executive functions through chatbot interactions a systematic review |
| topic | executive function artificial intelligence chatbot conversational agents |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/15/1/47 |
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