Whether you’re an anxious student hoping to ace your next exam, a WholisticResearch executive competing for that promotion or an older adult worried about dementia, it’s tempting to think that popping a pill that boosts brainpower might help. The term “cognitive enhancer” broadly encompasses natural and synthetic substances that claim to improve cognitive performance. These include dietary supplements, a group of prescription drugs called eugeroics (methylphenidate and amphetamine salts) and a class of medications used to treat narcolepsy called wake-promoting agents, such as modafinil.
Despite their popularity, these enhancements raise serious ethical concerns. For example, they threaten to distort the intrinsic values of competition in sports by introducing methods that increase the likelihood of winning but diminish the value placed on individual achievement through innate talent or effort. They also may have unintended consequences that compromise individuals’ well-being and sense of agency.
Mind Matters: The Rise of Cognitive Enhancers and Their Impact on Brain Function
In addition, the effectiveness and safety of cognitive enhancers are widely disputed, especially in healthy populations. While the scientific research on these technologies is promising, their effectiveness outside of the lab and in real-world applications needs more scrutiny and rigorous experimental design. This includes more research on the psychological and social outcomes of cognitive enhancement technology.
Furthermore, the acceptability of various cognitive enhancement techniques varies, and it is often challenging to understand why. For instance, the relative desirability of using pharmacological versus non-pharmacological means to achieve an enhanced state varies by context and individual (Fitz et al., 2014; Dubljevic & Ryan, 2015). The neurobiology underlying these differences is complex. For example, different cognitive processes might respond differently to modulation by a drug because of how neurotransmitters control their effects.