Email Updates RSS
Search
"The Ethics of Neuroenhancement: Smart Drugs, Competition and Society" offered for open access for the month of April

Can Smart Drugs Enhance Brain Power?

By IGI Global on Mar 30, 2015
Can Smart Drugs Enhance Brain Power?“Ultimately, our drug use is a reflection of our society, and should never be considered without the broader context of why healthy people choose to use the drugs in the first place.” (Sahakian & Morein-Zamir, 2007)1

Recent studies show that "smart drugs" are becoming increasingly popular among today's academics and researchers, raising the important question as to whether cognitive enhancement is morally objectionable.

Smart drugs, also referred to as nootropics, memory enhancers, neuro enhancers, and cognitive enhancers, are drugs, supplements, and foods that improve some aspects of mental function, such as working memory, motivation, and attention.2 According to the recent article on CNN Money, entrepreneur Dan Asprey says he spent 15 years and over $300,000 to "hack his own biology" with smart drugs. Along with supplements, he also uses various techniques to exercise his brain, claiming to have increased his IQ by 20 points. His health podcast has been downloaded more than 6 million times.3

The ethical use of smart drugs is under current speculation by the US government. Amy Gutmann, chairwoman of the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues, released the second part of a report on March 26th on ethics in neuroscience research, commissioned by President Barack Obama as part of the BRAIN Initiative, a collaborative effort to develop tools to study the human brain. The new report focused on three main areas: cognitive enhancement, informed consent in mentally impaired individuals and the use of neuroscience in the legal system. The report concluded with a general statement calling for more research on the subject. 4

The IGI Global article "The Ethics of Neuroenhancement: Smart Drugs, Competition and Society," by Dr. Nils-Frederic Wagner (University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada & Carleton University), Dr. Jeffrey Robinson (Royal Ottawa Health Care Group) and Dr. Christine Wiebking (Department of Sociology of Physical Activity and Health, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany) explores more of the ethical dilemma surrounding these suspect meds. The article is an attempt to articulate this moral unease and poses an argument for why the authors believe cognitive enhancement to be morally objectionable. Download "The Ethics of Neuroenhancement: Smart Drugs, Competition and Society" here.

An article in the International Journal of Technoethics (IJT), this resource advances scholarship on the impact of ethics in technological advances and applications, both in established areas (e.g. computer ethics, engineering ethics, and biotech ethics) and new areas of research (e.g. nanoethics, artificial morality, and neuroethics). As a semi-annual journal that publishes empirical research, theoretical studies, innovative methodologies, practical applications, case studies, and book reviews, IJT provides moral and ethical aspects of technology in society. Indexed by SCOPUS, Inspec, and ACM, this journal is a valuable addition to any library or collection. Recommend to your librarian or download a sample issue of IJT on the journal web page.

1 Sahakian & Morein-Zamir, (2007). Nature, 1157-1159. doi:10.1038/4501157a.
2http://motherboard.vice.com/read/brain-enhancing-smart-drugs-are-going-commercial
3http://money.cnn.com/2015/01/25/technology/nootropics-smart-drugs/
4http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/27/smart-pills-ethics_n_6955744.html


IGI Global is now offering FREE lifetime e-access with all print journal subscriptions. Purchases must be made directly through the IGI Global Online Bookstore or through a distributor. Purchase any print or electronic publication directly through the IGI Global Online Bookstore and receive a 20% discount* applied directly to your shopping cart. Offer also includes individual book chapters, journal articles, and teaching cases purchased through InfoSci®-OnDemand, IGI Global’s premier bibliographic database which allows you to search, select, and download the content you need, when you need it. 20% discount offer cannot be combined with any other offer. Discount offer valid on purchases made directly through IGI Global’s Online Bookstore (www.igi-global.com) and may not be used by distributors or book sellers. Contact cust@igi-global.com for additional information.

Some of IGI Global’s other publications discussing human enhancement and ethics include the following:



Newsroom Contact:
Ann Lupold, Promotions Coordinator
alupold@igi-global.com
(717) 533-8845, ext. 132
www.igi-global.com
Browse for more posts in:
HealthcareMedical, Healthcare, and Life SciencesCognitive InformaticsCognitive LearningNeural NetworksBook SeriesBooks & E-BooksChaptersInfoSci-BooksEuropeFree ContentNorth AmericaAuthor NewsResources for DistributorsResources for InstructorsResources for LibrariansResources for ResearchersResources for Translators

No comments Comments

Log in or sign up to comment.
Be the first to comment!

More from IGI Global

Apr 25, 2024 How AI Changes the Game with Targeted Advertising and Rapid Upscaling
How can advertisers possibly keep up with billions of unique individuals on the planet? Enter artificial intelligence.
IGI GlobalRead More
Business and ManagementMarketingBooks & E-BooksResearch Trends
Apr 23, 2024 Participate in the IGI Global Annual Academic Publishing Trends & Open Access Survey 2024
In its second year, the IGI Global Annual Academic Publishing Trends & Open Access Survey 2024 seeks to create a realistic outlook on problems faced by the academic community and their potential solutions.
IGI GlobalRead More
Resources for LibrariansResources for ResearchersOpen Access
Apr 18, 2024 Uniting Nations with Multinational Electronic Health Records to Stop Lassa Fever's Pandemic Threat!
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a surge in Lassa fever cases in Nigeria, emphasizing the urgent need for containment measures.
IGI GlobalRead More
Medical, Healthcare, and Life SciencesHealthcare Information SystemsBooks & E-BooksResearch Trends
Apr 16, 2024 IGI Global Announces the 2024 Journal Reviewers Award Winners
IGI Global congratulates the winners of this year's Journal Reviewer Award
IGI GlobalRead More
JournalsAwards & RecognitionOpen Access
Apr 15, 2024 What Defines Authorship and Who Should Be Included in a Manuscript’s Byline?
For decades, academic publishing has been plagued with discrepancies surrounding authorship of scholarly research...
IGI GlobalRead More
Books & E-BooksAcquisitions
Apr 15, 2024 Doody’s Selects IGI Global Books for Special Topics List
Two IGI Global publications have been recognized by Doody's for their excellence and niche topic focus.
IGI GlobalRead More
Medical, Healthcare, and Life SciencesMedia and CommunicationsBooks & E-BooksAwards & Recognition
Apr 11, 2024 Technology is Making Disparities Worse
Digital Inclusion Week underscored the urgent need for a national digital equity plan in the US due to disparities in internet access and digital skills.
IGI GlobalRead More
Apr 8, 2024 Nearly 90% of IGI Global’s Frontlist Books Now Indexed in Scopus
The majority of IGI Global's books Frontlist is now indexed by Scopus. Learn what this prestigious recognition means for the publisher and the experts behind these books.
IGI GlobalRead More
Books & E-BooksAwards & RecognitionReviews & Indexing
Apr 4, 2024 Navigating Neglected Maintenance and Safety Risks of Flight Travel
A United Airlines Flight 837 bound for Tokyo from San Francisco could not take off due to a mechanical issue.
IGI GlobalRead More
Business and ManagementComputer Science and Information TechnologyScience & EngineeringHospitality, Travel & Tourism ManagementAerospace EngineeringBooks & E-BooksResearch Trends
Apr 3, 2024 Interview with a Global Guru in Education
Hear from Dr. Velliaris, who was voted as a Top 30 Global Guru in Education.
EducationBooks & E-BooksInterviewAuthor News
First Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10  ... Next Last