Cognitive Hybridization: Redefining Human Identity at the Interface of Neuroscience and Artificial Intelligence: A Narrative Review

Background & Objective: The convergence of human cognition and artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping cognitive identity and challenging traditional understandings of consciousness, agency, and selfhood. This narrative review introduces a conceptual three-stage model of cognitive hybridization, comprising Simulation, Integration, and Co-Evolution, to examine the dynamics of human-AI interaction and its neuroethical implications. Materials & Methods: Interdisciplinary evidence from cognitive neuroscience, AI research, and neuroethics was synthesized by drawing on studies published between ۲۰۰۰ and ۲۰۲۵ in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The review focused on brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), mechanisms of neural plasticity, and the cognitive capacities of large language models (LLMs). Results: In the Simulation stage, LLMs replicate selected cognitive operations such as language processing, although they lack any biological substrates, including hippocampal encoding and network-level neural dynamics. The Integration stage involves reciprocal interactions between the brain and AI, where BCIs facilitate emergent forms of shared agency mediated through cortical and basal ganglia pathways. The Co-Evolution stage reflects bidirectional adaptive processes that gradually reshape cognitive functions across both developing and aging brains. Key neuroethical considerations include autonomy, cognitive justice, and the protection of neural data and cognitive privacy. Conclusion: This model highlights the urgent need for updated theoretical and ethical frameworks that can guide human-AI co-evolution and promote equitable and safe cognitive enhancement. The proposed framework offers a structured foundation for future interdisciplinary inquiry in neuroethics and cognitive augmentation.

کلیدواژه ها:

Cognitive identity ، Cognitive hybridization ، Human-AI interaction ، Neuroethics ، Shared agency