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Related Concept Videos

Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists01:30

Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists

Cognitive enhancers, also known as "smart drugs," are substances used to enhance memory, mental alertness, and concentration. These can be natural or synthetic and improve cognition in conditions like Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Some common examples include caffeine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, modafinil, arecoline, donepezil, vortioxetine, and piracetam. These enhancers work on the principle of synaptic plasticity and altered circuit function. They...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 20, 2026

High-definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation over Right Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex to Enhance Metacognitive Sensitivity
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High-definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation over Right Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex to Enhance Metacognitive Sensitivity

Published on: September 26, 2025

Non-pharmacological cognitive enhancement.

Martin Dresler1, Anders Sandberg, Kathrin Ohla

  • 1Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstr. 2-10, 80804 Munich, Germany. dresler@mpipsykl.mpg.de

Neuropharmacology
|July 26, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Non-pharmacological methods like exercise and nutrition can enhance cognitive function, sometimes proving more effective than pharmaceutical cognitive enhancers. Ethical considerations for these methods are crucial.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Bioethics
  • Cognitive Psychology

Background:

  • Cognitive enhancement aims to improve mental functions beyond normal health.
  • Current bioethical discussions predominantly focus on pharmaceutical interventions.
  • Non-pharmacological approaches also constitute cognitive enhancement.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review empirical data on non-pharmacological cognitive enhancement strategies.
  • To compare the efficacy of non-pharmacological methods with pharmaceuticals.
  • To explore the ethical implications of non-pharmacological cognitive enhancement.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of empirical data.
  • Analysis of nutrition, physical exercise, sleep, meditation, mnemonic strategies, computer training, and brain stimulation.
  • Ethical argument analysis.

Main Results:

  • Several non-pharmacological strategies show significant efficacy in enhancing cognitive capabilities.
  • Some non-pharmacological methods appear more effective than typical pharmaceutical cognitive enhancers.
  • Ethical arguments require re-evaluation in the context of non-pharmacological enhancement.

Conclusions:

  • Non-pharmacological cognitive enhancement is a valid and important area of study.
  • These methods offer promising alternatives or complements to pharmaceutical enhancers.
  • A nuanced ethical debate is necessary for both pharmacological and non-pharmacological cognitive enhancement.