Neurobiological impact of AI and its sociological implications on affective and social relationships

Abstract

This study presents an exploratory literature review focused on previous scientific studies regarding the neurobiological and sociological effects generated by frequent interactions between humans and artificial intelligences. Based on findings obtained from third-party research, the document explores how frequent interaction with AI is not only modifying social dynamics and modes of connection, but may also induce lasting neurobiological changes with negative effects. Multiple studies indicate that continuous exposure to AI through social networks or conversational chats, optimized for retention and engagement metrics, overstimulates the dopaminergic reward circuit (associated with pleasure, motivation, and learning), sensitizing the ventral striatum and reinforcing repetitive behaviors aimed at the constant pursuit of digital feedback—particularly among adolescents and young adults with greater brain plasticity. Recent studies in epigenetics show that prolonged exposure to certain digital environments can influence the expression of genes associated with social bonding, impulsivity, and emotional well-being, especially genes such as OXTR, DAT1, or SERT, weakening genuine affective connections and increasing anxiety, loneliness, and emotional dysregulation. Behaviorally, these alterations are associated with the phenomenon of “networked individualism,” characterized by algorithmic personalization and immediate gratification, replacing in-person interactions and fostering self-centered and fragmented social dynamics that harm emotional and relational well-being. While conversational technologies may offer emotional support to people suffering from severe loneliness, they can also produce adverse psychological effects if not designed with these risks in mind. These findings are highly relevant for the technical community. They demand an ethical and technical reconfiguration of the role of developers and engineers, which can no longer be limited to the functional development of systems, but must also take responsibility for the creation of addictive or functional structures that erode users' ability to establish sustainable affective, social, and biological environments. Urgent collaboration is needed among neuroscientists, developers, and mental health experts to align technological advancement with users’ neurobiological and social well-being.