In the future scientists will be able to make you think quicker, remember more or focus better on a task. From drugs to genetic manipulation there are lots of ways that we could make our brains work harder, some of which are already surprisingly familiar. The commonly-prescribed ADHD drug Ritalin, for example, can be thought of as a cognition-enhancer, and anyone who begins the day with a cup of tea knows caffeine can help get thoughts flowing.

As you might guess, the ethics of enhancement are complex: what are the risks and benefits? It would seem a wonderful thing to increase the power of our brains, but the idea of enhancement faces strong opposition at times, and objectors raise difficult questions about enhancement in the real world. What are the issues surrounding small children or those with dementia, who can’t give informed consent to enhancement? Should everyone have equal access to enhancement? Is that possible?

The British Medical Association is releasing a special report dealing with these issues and more this autumn, which this event will tie in with. Join us to find out the science behind cognitive enhancement, and begin the public debate on its future.

Prof Robin Gill is the Michael Ramsey Professor of Modern Theology in the University of Kent. Previously he held the William Leech Research Chair of Applied Theology at the University of Newcastle. Amongst his recent books are: Churchgoing and christian ethics (1999), The Cambridge companion to Christian ethics (2001) and Health care and Christian ethics (2006).

Prof John Harris is Sir David Alliance Professor of Bioethics, School of Law, University of Manchester and is joint Editor-in-Chief of The journal of medical ethics. He has been a member of The United Kingdom Human Genetics Commission since its foundation in 1999 and is a Member of the Medical Ethics Committee of the British Medical Association. Recent books of his include: Clones genes and immortality (1998); Bioethics (editor, 2001); A companion to genethics: philosophy and the genetic revolution. (editor, 2002); and On cloning, (2004). His new book Enhancing evolution will be published by Princeton University Press in 2007.

Prof Barbara Sahakian is Professor of Clinical Neuropsychology at the University of Cambridge. Her research is aimed at understanding the neural basis of the cognitive, emotional and behavioural dysfunction resulting from brain injury or neuropsychiatric disorder in order to develop more effective pharmacological and psychological treatments. Her current study participants include both healthy volunteers and patient groups with brain injury, Alzheimer’s disease, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive compulsive disorder, substance abuse, depression and mania.