The Digital Brain – Christian Enzinger presents his book

Our brains have quite a lot on their plate. We are constantly bombarded with news, social media is a constant companion in our daily lives, and information is available at all times. And with AI, a new tool to aid our thinking has been added to the mix. All of this has now become an integral part of our lives. But what effect does the digital world have on our thinking and learning? And how can we make the most of its potential without overloading our brains or simply outsourcing our thinking altogether? Christian Enzinger, a neurologist and Head of the Clinical Department of Neurology at Graz University Hospital, explores these questions in his new book „Das digitale Gehirn“.

As Head of the Department of Neurology at the LKH University Hospital Graz and Professor of Neurology at the Medical University of Graz, Christian Enzinger has been studying the human brain for many years. Now, in addition to his numerous scientific publications, he has dedicated a book to this subject for the first time. For him, one of the most fascinating characteristics of our brain is its enormous adaptability: it can create new connections, alter existing ones and respond to new challenges. This so-called neuroplasticity enables us to learn throughout our lives – and also helps us to cope with an increasingly digital environment. 

“Our brain is capable of adapting flexibly to new challenges and constantly developing,” says Christian Enzinger. Nevertheless, in his view, we sometimes treat it like a computer that never tires and needs no breaks. Yet it is precisely these breaks that are important.

When doing nothing suddenly becomes productive

After all, a supposed ‘standby mode’ by no means implies that nothing is happening in the brain. During periods of rest, the so-called default mode network, amongst other things, becomes active. Various areas of the brain work together in this process – which is important, for example, for self-reflection, creativity and finding new solutions. Christian Enzinger compares this to a ‘silent orchestra’ practising new scores of thought.

A glance at a smartphone shows just how easily such rest periods get neglected in our digital daily lives. Social media, in particular, is designed to constantly grab our attention. Rapidly changing, personalised content appeals to the brain’s reward centres: ‘Hello, you’ve got to look at this, otherwise you’ll miss out!’, says Christian Enzinger, simplifying the mechanism.

AI as a tool, not a substitute for thought

Artificial intelligence plays a special role for the neurologist. This is because it goes far beyond the technical aids that have already been taking individual tasks off our hands. Enzinger wishes neither to demonise AI nor to sing its praises. Rather, the aim is to become aware of the changes we are currently experiencing and how we deal with them.

“AI should be seen as a tool, as an augmentation of our brain’s capabilities, not as a substitute for thinking,” emphasises Christian Enzinger. Researching, gathering ideas, getting suggestions – AI can make all of this easier. However, we should continue to evaluate, question and contextualise information ourselves. After all, anyone who increasingly outsources cognitive tasks – the concept of ‘cognitive offloading’ – exercises certain cognitive skills less. It is therefore crucial to use AI in such a way that it supports our thinking without taking it over.

Christian Enzinger also dispels a number of persistent myths surrounding our brain. True multitasking, for example, does not exist: the human brain processes tasks sequentially, albeit sometimes so quickly that it may seem otherwise to us. Neuroplasticity, on the other hand, is well established by science: our brain remains adaptable if we challenge and stimulate it.

No finger-wagging

Christian Enzinger deliberately avoids offering ready-made solutions for a ‘perfect brain’ in his book. Instead, he offers 15 scientifically grounded suggestions, from which everyone can take away what suits their own life situation. His personal favourite sounds surprisingly digital: embrace digitalisation, keep up with it and see the positive in it.

For, despite all the challenges, Christian Enzinger sees digitalisation above all as an opportunity – as long as people decide for themselves how to use it. And some things should remain entirely analogue anyway. For, despite all the capabilities of algorithms and artificial intelligence, there are limits that are quite clear to the neurologist: “No chip can replace empathy, any more than it can replace a kiss.”

Das digitale Gehirn – Wie wir mit der KI mithalten

Author: Christian Enzinger
Publisher: Buchverlag Edition Platin

In his book „Das digitale Gehirn“, Christian Enzinger explores the question of how technology can be used without undermining our ability to think, our creativity and our inner peace.

Source: University Hospital Graz, 11 September 2026