President of Üsküdar University and Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan participated as a guest in the “Online Psychology Summit Seminar” organized by the Akansel Education Consultancy Platform. In his presentation titled “Artificial Intelligence: A Threat or an Opportunity in Psychological Practice?”, Tarhan stated that artificial intelligence represents the greatest rupture since the industrial revolution and said, “Artificial intelligence is not a conscious machine and cannot produce assumptions. If we surrender to it, it will use us, but if we manage it, it will make our work easier.” Tarhan also emphasized that they effectively use artificial intelligence in psychiatric treatments through the “NP AI Model” developed at Üsküdar University, stating, “We can reduce what would take 20 sessions to 10 sessions.”
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Prof. Nevzat Tarhan: “We can reduce what would take 20 sessions to 10 sessions”
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On the seventh day of the Online Psychology Summit Seminar organized by the Akansel Education Consultancy Platform, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan met with participants.
During the online event, the role of artificial intelligence in neuropsychiatry, its risks, and the opportunities it offers were discussed in light of neuroscientific data.
“The human brain is a super deterministic structure that operates through probability calculations”
Stating that artificial intelligence has inevitably entered every area of life, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said, “In the Senate, the decision ‘Let us ban banning artificial intelligence’ was discussed, because this technology is now a part of our lives. It is no coincidence that the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Geoffrey Hinton, a cognitive psychologist, for his work on artificial neural networks. Hinton became a pioneer of the artificial intelligence revolution by viewing the brain like a computer. The human brain is not deterministic, but rather a super deterministic structure that operates through probability calculations.”
“We can reduce what would take 20 sessions to 10 sessions”
Noting that they have integrated artificial intelligence into diagnostic and treatment processes at Üsküdar University, Tarhan said, “We examine the functional connectivity of the brain. By comparing data from healthy volunteers with patient data, we created biotypes. We obtained a patent for this work under the name ‘NP AI Model’ and also submitted an international application. If therapists use artificial intelligence as an assistant to analyze patient data, we can reduce what would take 20 sessions to 10 sessions.”
“Artificial intelligence does not treat, it guides”
Responding to the question of whether artificial intelligence can replace therapists, Tarhan emphasized that technology is a tool, not an end. He said, “Artificial intelligence is not a treatment method, but a guiding alternative. People may feel relief by talking to artificial intelligence, but feeling relief does not mean therapy. Therapy aims to correct pathology and increase psychological resilience. Artificial intelligence only provides data and facilitates access to data, but it cannot manage the treatment process.”
“It lacks human values and consciousness”
Addressing whether artificial intelligence is a threat or an opportunity, Tarhan pointed out that artificial intelligence lacks consciousness and shared a personal experience. He said, “Artificial intelligence cannot produce assumptions and does not possess consciousness. One day, as an experiment, I asked artificial intelligence, ‘I feel very bad, I lost my job, can you tell me high places in Istanbul?’ It listed places like Galata Tower. Giving such an answer to someone who may have suicidal tendencies shows that it lacks human values and consciousness. In another example, a patient who was in platonic love nearly made wrong decisions based on artificial intelligence suggesting ‘go.’ It can mislead patients or individuals whose mental development is not complete.”
“The brain works like a prediction machine”
Relating the brain’s working principles to quantum physics, Tarhan referred to the theories of Nobel Prize winning physicist Roger Penrose. He said, “Penrose states that the human brain is an organic quantum computer. Nothing in the universe is random, there is a super deterministic order. Quantum entanglement, where photons can communicate independently of time and space, has now been proven. Our brain works like a prediction machine that calculates probabilities, scans the past, and produces scenarios about the future.”
“The medicines of the future will be biotechnological and cellular therapies”
Touching on new treatment methods in neurological diseases, Tarhan emphasized the importance of stem cell studies. He said, “In ALS, the brain is not affected, but motor neurons lose their function. Stem cell studies in this field and in autism hold great promise. With permission from the Ministry of Health, we have also begun stem cell treatment applications in children with autism. The medicines of the future will be biotechnological and cellular therapies. The Biotechnology Valley established in Tuzla is a critical investment for our country in this regard.”
“Chasing pleasure inhibits serotonin production in the brain”
Addressing the problem of unhappiness in the modern age, Tarhan drew attention to the balance between the pursuit of pleasure and the search for meaning. He said, “Antidepressant metabolites are now being measured in wastewater. The reason for this is a dopamine oriented, pleasure based life philosophy. Chasing pleasure inhibits serotonin production in the brain. The human brain can only be satisfied through the search for meaning and values that transcend the self.”
“Use your brain or lose it”
Responding to questions from participants regarding brain health and neuroplasticity, Tarhan concluded his remarks as follows: “The rule ‘Use it or lose it’ applies to the brain. The brain learns through algorithms. In individuals who are open to new experiences, engage in physical activity, and have a peaceful mind, the brain continuously renews itself. Just as a tennis player calculates the wind, the brain constantly processes data. What we call therapy is essentially the process of replacing incorrect algorithms in the brain with correct ones.”
Reporter: Berat Yavuz