Should we use drugs to enhance cognitive performance?
Maxine Clarke
Monday, 01 December 2008 17:40 UTC
There is a growing trend to take prescription stimulants (Adderall and Ritalin for example) in order to enhance cognitive performance – perhaps in attempt to obtain better grades or increase learning capacity. Nature has been reporting on developments in this controversial area and providing a forum for discussion. In a Commentary article published online today (_Nature doi:10.1038/456702a; 7 December 2008) Henry Greely and co-authors, who include Philip Campbell, Editor in Chief of Nature, say that society must respond to this demand. The authors call for:
- a presumption that adults should be able to use drugs for this purpose
- an evidence-based approach to evaluate the risks and benefits
- legal and ethical policies to ensure fair and equitable use
- a research programme
- broadly available information about risks and benefits
Do you agree with the authors that new methods of improving our brain function should be welcomed, to improve quality of life and extend lifespans? Will safe and effective cognitive enhancers benefit the individual and society? Or should these drugs remain illegal for these purposes?
The Nature Commentary is published online tonight (7 December) and will be in the 11 December 2008 print edition of the journal.
Previous Nature Network discussion responding to the question ‘would you boost your brain power?’
Updated 08 December 2008 08:27 UTC
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what? what? whatwhatwhat?? tellmetellmetellme!!!
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I second Steffi
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Check back on 11 Dec!
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Things that happened on 11 December
1192: Richard I captured by Leopold of Austria on his way home from the Crusades.
1282: Death of Llewelyn ap Gruffyd, the last native Prince of Wales
Birthdays of Alexander Solzhenitsyn (1918) and Hector Berlioz (1803)
1936: Edward VIII abdicated.
1941: Hitler declares war on the United States.
1987: I joined the staff of Nature. -
Aha, Henry’s 21st anniversary – that must be it.
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Sadly not.
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The Commentary referred to here is being publshed ahead of the print edition, not to scoop Henry’s anniversary but because there is a related conference early next week, where the article will be discussed. [I cannot predict to the minute what time the advance online publication “batch” of articles will be live tonight – any time after 1800 h GMT – but I’ll check the links again later or tomorrow morning just in case of a glitch.]
Now that the suspense is over, what do you think about the use of drugs to boost brain power? Would you do it if it was legal? Should we move to make certain drugs legal – which and under what circumstances? -
Nicotine in tobacco smoke is a perfect example. Do the health costs outweigh the cognitive benefits? Are there other social considerations?
My personal choice has been to avoid tobacco, even though I like the smell. In 46 years, I have smoked one cigarette. But the prospect of getting a mental boost over friendly conversation is attractive. Therefore, the social setting in which the drugs are administered is a primary consideration.
Should one need to hide in the closet to take an injection? Or would it be possible to go to a “cognitive lounge” for a stimulating break? Whatever the decision, I am certain manufacturers will come up with an effective marketing system.
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One question arising from Philip’s comment is whether anyone takes nicotine to boost their cognitive ability, or for other reasons?
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Anonymous
How dare they have the audacity to suggest such a thing?! The solution to the increasing “unnaturalness” in human society is not to simply shrug, say “why stop at homes, clothes, etc” as the authors suggest, and start drugging up otherwise healthy adults! The key to a satisfying and rich life is not to be found in caffeine or nicotine, much less adderall, ritalin, or next generation cognitive boosters. Furthermore, what effect would widespread use of such drugs have on ever-widening global socioeconomic disparities, regardless of how well distribution/development is monitored?! Not only would the rich continue to get richer and healthier, but they’d have the ability to get “smarter” as well. If we’re not careful, we won’t only end up with further social stratification— we’ll see speciation!! At the very least, the opinion put forth here should be seriously critiqued; taken a step further, I’d like to see these authors lambasted for this commentary!
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