Cognitive enhance cognition technologies are becoming increasingly popular, not just as remedies for brain disorders but also for healthy individuals. Compounds like methylphenidate and modafinil are used by students seeking better grades, military personnel needing to remain awake for long missions, elderly people afraid of cognitive decline and even university academics keen to maintain their performance. These drugs have various side effects and do not always work the way they are supposed to, leading some of these users to abandon their use. Yet, this does not mean that the social and psychological consequences of these technologies should be ignored or underestimated.
Unlock Your Brain’s Potential: Strategies to Enhance Cognition and Boost Mental Performance
Rather, they should be studied in more detail to inform debates about the use of enhancement technology. For example, studies on the effectiveness of cognitive enhancement methods must be unbiased and take into account their intended and actual impacts. To achieve this, they should include a broad range of outcomes that are relevant for user decision making and avoid the reliance on standardized bedside batteries (see Box 1). In addition, attention should be paid to the agents who choose to use these technologies, their traits, motivations and intentions.
For instance, the cliche 24/7 working manager as depicted in some of the films about cognition-enhancing drugs might want to ramp up to breakout levels of raw intellect and creativity but is likely to lack the financial resources to invest time in sleep, meditation or mnemonic training. Hence, the ethical implications of his desire to enhance his cognitive abilities may be very different from that of a heroic individual with noble and altruistic intent aiming to save as many lives as possible by landing an airplane safely or performing surgery accurately.
…