Enhancing Cognitive Function: Methods and Benefits

Cognitive enhancement refers to the improvement of cognitive functions like memory, attention, and creativity through various techniques or interventions.
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Brain Training | Nootropics | Memory Improvement | Brain Performance
Prepared by Lee Cheng, reviewed by Dr. Helena Rodriguez

Cognitive Enhancement FAQ


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What is cognitive enhancement?

In the most general sense, cognitive enhancement can be considered as the improvement in performance related to cognitive tasks. The term “cognitive enhancement” is usually used without clarifying any of the nuances associated with its meaning, yet it refers to a wide range of practices and assumptions that impinge on other concepts.

Are cognitive enhancers effective?

The efficacy of cognitive enhancers does not only differ for different cognitive domains, but also for different users. An important factor in this regard are the cognitive skills of the individual prior to the enhancement intervention.

What are the three conceptions of cognitive enhancement?

There are three main conceptions of cognitive enhancement: augmenting, diminishing, and optimizing. The first conception considers interventions in the brain as enhancements when they improve some function by increasing its ability to do what it normally does ( Harris, 2007; Bostrom and Sandberg, 2009 ).

What are some examples of cognitive enhancement?

Keywords: Enhancement, Well-being, Human flourishing, Health, Ethics, Social psychology. Stimulant drugs, transcranial magnetic stimulation, brain-computer interfaces, and even genetic modifications are commonly discussed as forms of potential cognitive enhancement (Farahany et al., 2018; Greely et al., 2008 ).

What are the 7 dimensions of cognitive enhancement?

In the following, we aim to elucidate seven essential dimension of cognitive enhancement, namely, (a) its mode of action, (b) the cognitive domain targeted, (c) personal factors, (d) its time scale, (e) side effects, (f) availability, and (g) social acceptance (see Figure 1 ).

What is the baseline-dependency of cognitive enhancement?

The baseline-dependency of cognitive enhancement is not restricted to pharmaceuticals: also in the case of video games, 133 cognitive training, 134 or brain stimulation, 135, 136 individuals starting at a lower baseline performance benefit more than those with an already high performance at baseline.

Cognitive Enhancement References

If you want to know more about Cognitive Enhancement, consider exploring links below:

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