AI and Human Cognition: The Reverse Flynn Effect and Protecting Cognitive Agency

AI and Human Cognition: The Reverse Flynn Effect and Protecting Cognitive Agency

From I'm NOT a Robot by AI Academy

February 18, 2026 · 21 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the reversal of the Flynn effect and its implications on human cognition in the context of increasing technology use.

Does using more technology actually make us less cognitively capable? For most of the 20th century, each generation scored higher on IQ tests than the one before, a phenomenon known as the Flynn effect. This trend began to reverse in several countries, though the pattern was recognized around 2010. If we think of humans like computers for a moment, the new generation may be developing different cognitive strengths: becoming better at parallel processing, visual pattern recognition, and multit...

Topics covered

  • AI
  • human cognition
  • Flynn effect
  • cognitive agency
  • technology impact

Keywords

  • cognitive capability
  • IQ tests
  • parallel processing
  • visual pattern recognition
  • multitasking

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: AI Academy

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