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Cognitive Enhancement (cognitive + enhancement)
Selected AbstractsBUDDHISM AND NEUROETHICS: THE ETHICS OF PHARMACEUTICAL COGNITIVE ENHANCEMENTDEVELOPING WORLD BIOETHICS, Issue 2 2009ANDREW FENTON ABSTRACT This paper integrates some Buddhist moral values, attitudes and self-cultivation techniques into a discussion of the ethics of cognitive enhancement technologies , in particular, pharmaceutical enhancements. Many Buddhists utilize meditation techniques that are both integral to their practice and are believed to enhance the cognitive and affective states of experienced practitioners. Additionally, Mah,y,na Buddhism's teaching on skillful means permits a liberal use of methods or techniques in Buddhist practice that yield insight into our selfnature or aid in alleviating or eliminating dukha (i.e. dissatisfaction). These features of many, if not most, Buddhist traditions will inform much of the Buddhist assessment of pharmaceutical enhancements offered in this paper. Some Buddhist concerns about the effects and context of the use of pharmaceutical enhancements will be canvassed in the discussion. Also, the author will consider Buddhist views of the possible harms that may befall human and nonhuman research subjects, interference with a recipient's karma, the artificiality of pharmaceutical enhancements, and the possible motivations or intentions of healthy individuals pursuing pharmacological enhancement. Perhaps surprisingly, none of these concerns will adequately ground a reflective Buddhist opposition to the further development and continued use of pharmaceutical enhancements, either in principle or in practice. The author argues that Buddhists, from at least certain traditions , particularly Mah,y,na Buddhist traditions , should advocate the development or use of pharmaceutical enhancements if a consequence of their use is further insight into our self-nature or the reduction or alleviation of dukha. [source] The Perils of Cognitive Enhancement and the Urgent Imperative to Enhance the Moral Character of HumanityJOURNAL OF APPLIED PHILOSOPHY, Issue 3 2008INGMAR PERSSON abstract As history shows, some human beings are capable of acting very immorally.1 Technological advance and consequent exponential growth in cognitive power means that even rare evil individuals can act with catastrophic effect. The advance of science makes biological, nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction easier and easier to fabricate and, thus, increases the probability that they will come into the hands of small terrorist groups and deranged individuals. Cognitive enhancement by means of drugs, implants and biological (including genetic) interventions could thus accelerate the advance of science, or its application, and so increase the risk of the development or misuse of weapons of mass destruction. We argue that this is a reason which speaks against the desirability of cognitive enhancement, and the consequent speedier growth of knowledge, if it is not accompanied by an extensive moral enhancement of humankind. We review the possibilities for moral enhancement by biomedical and genetic means and conclude that, though it should be possible in principle, it is in practice probably distant. There is thus a reason not to support cognitive enhancement in the foreseeable future. However, we grant that there are also reasons in its favour, but we do not attempt to settle the balance between these reasons for and against. Rather, we conclude that if research into cognitive enhancement continues, as it is likely to, it must be accompanied by research into moral enhancement. [source] Cognitive enhancement as a pharmacotherapy target for stimulant addictionADDICTION, Issue 1 2010Mehmet Sofuoglu ABSTRACT Background No medications have been proven to be effective for cocaine and methamphetamine addiction. Attenuation of drug reward has been the main strategy for medications development, but this approach has not led to effective treatments. Thus, there is a need to identify novel treatment targets in addition to the brain reward system. Aim To propose a novel treatment strategy for stimulant addiction that will focus on medications enhancing cognitive function and attenuating drug reward. Methods Pre-clinical and clinical literature on potential use of cognitive enhancers for stimulant addiction pharmacotherapy was reviewed. Results and conclusions Cocaine and methamphetamine users show significant cognitive impairments, especially in attention, working memory and response inhibition functions. The cognitive impairments seem to be predictive of poor treatment retention and outcome. Medications targeting acetylcholine and norepinephrine are particularly well suited for enhancing cognitive function in stimulant users. Many cholinergic and noradrenergic medications are on the market and have a good safety profile and low abuse potential. These include galantamine, donepezil and rivastigmine (cholinesterase inhibitors), varenicline (partial nicotine agonist), guanfacine (alpha2 -adrenergic agonist) and atomoxetine (norepinephrine transporter inhibitor). Future clinical studies designed optimally to measure cognitive function as well as drug use behavior would be needed to test the efficacy of these cognitive enhancers for stimulant addiction. [source] The Perils of Cognitive Enhancement and the Urgent Imperative to Enhance the Moral Character of HumanityJOURNAL OF APPLIED PHILOSOPHY, Issue 3 2008INGMAR PERSSON abstract As history shows, some human beings are capable of acting very immorally.1 Technological advance and consequent exponential growth in cognitive power means that even rare evil individuals can act with catastrophic effect. The advance of science makes biological, nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction easier and easier to fabricate and, thus, increases the probability that they will come into the hands of small terrorist groups and deranged individuals. Cognitive enhancement by means of drugs, implants and biological (including genetic) interventions could thus accelerate the advance of science, or its application, and so increase the risk of the development or misuse of weapons of mass destruction. We argue that this is a reason which speaks against the desirability of cognitive enhancement, and the consequent speedier growth of knowledge, if it is not accompanied by an extensive moral enhancement of humankind. We review the possibilities for moral enhancement by biomedical and genetic means and conclude that, though it should be possible in principle, it is in practice probably distant. There is thus a reason not to support cognitive enhancement in the foreseeable future. However, we grant that there are also reasons in its favour, but we do not attempt to settle the balance between these reasons for and against. Rather, we conclude that if research into cognitive enhancement continues, as it is likely to, it must be accompanied by research into moral enhancement. [source] REVIEW: Cognitive effects of nicotine: genetic moderatorsADDICTION BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2010Aryeh I. Herman ABSTRACT Cigarette smoking is the main preventable cause of death in developed countries, and the development of more effective treatments is necessary. Cumulating evidence suggests that cognitive enhancement may contribute to the addictive actions of nicotine. Several studies have demonstrated that nicotine enhances cognitive performance in both smokers and non-smokers. Genetic studies support the role of both dopamine (DA) and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) associated with nicotine-induced cognitive enhancement. Based on knockout mice studies, ,2 nAChRs are thought to be essential in mediating the cognitive effects of nicotine. ,7nAChRs are associated with attentional and sensory filtering response, especially in schizophrenic individuals. Genetic variation in D2 type DA receptors and the catechol-O-methyltransferase enzyme appears to moderate cognitive deficits induced by smoking abstinence. Serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene variation also moderates nicotine-induced improvement in spatial working memory. Less is known about the contribution of genetic variation in DA transporter and D4 type DA receptor genetic variation on the cognitive effects of nicotine. Future research will provide a clearer understanding of the mechanism underlying the cognitive-enhancing actions of nicotine. [source] The Perils of Cognitive Enhancement and the Urgent Imperative to Enhance the Moral Character of HumanityJOURNAL OF APPLIED PHILOSOPHY, Issue 3 2008INGMAR PERSSON abstract As history shows, some human beings are capable of acting very immorally.1 Technological advance and consequent exponential growth in cognitive power means that even rare evil individuals can act with catastrophic effect. The advance of science makes biological, nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction easier and easier to fabricate and, thus, increases the probability that they will come into the hands of small terrorist groups and deranged individuals. Cognitive enhancement by means of drugs, implants and biological (including genetic) interventions could thus accelerate the advance of science, or its application, and so increase the risk of the development or misuse of weapons of mass destruction. We argue that this is a reason which speaks against the desirability of cognitive enhancement, and the consequent speedier growth of knowledge, if it is not accompanied by an extensive moral enhancement of humankind. We review the possibilities for moral enhancement by biomedical and genetic means and conclude that, though it should be possible in principle, it is in practice probably distant. There is thus a reason not to support cognitive enhancement in the foreseeable future. However, we grant that there are also reasons in its favour, but we do not attempt to settle the balance between these reasons for and against. Rather, we conclude that if research into cognitive enhancement continues, as it is likely to, it must be accompanied by research into moral enhancement. [source] OUGHT WE TO ENHANCE OUR COGNITIVE CAPACITIES?1BIOETHICS, Issue 7 2009TORBJÖRN TÄNNSJÖ ABSTRACT Ought we to improve our cognitive capacities beyond the normal human range? It might be a good idea to level out differences between peoples cognitive capacities; and some people's reaching beyond normal capacities may have some good side-effects on society at large (but also bad side-effects, of course). But is there any direct gain to be made from having ones cognitive capacities enhanced? Would this as such make our lives go better? No, I argue; or at least there doesn't seem to be any evidence suggesting that it would. And it doesn't matter whether we consider the question from a narrow hedonistic perspective, from a more refined hedonistic perspective, from a desire-satisfaction view, or from some reasonable objective list view of what makes a life go well. Only an extremely perfectionist , and implausible , view of what makes our lives go well could support any direct value in cognitive enhancement. Finally, our sense of identity gives us no good reasons to enhance even our capacity to remember. So, cognitive enhancement as such would not improve our lives. [source] Cognition and disability in bipolar disorder: lessons from schizophrenia researchBIPOLAR DISORDERS, Issue 4 2010Philip D Harvey Harvey PD, Wingo AP, Burdick KE, Baldessarini RJ. Cognition and disability in bipolar disorder: lessons from schizophrenia research. Bipolar Disord 2010: 12: 364,375. © 2010 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Background:, Cognitive and functional impairments occur in patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder (BPD), although they are usually less severe and far less studied than in schizophrenia. There may be value in applying approaches developed in schizophrenia research to study cognitive functioning among BPD patients in areas including performance-based disability assessment, cognitive remediation treatments, enhancement of the accuracy of real-world functioning, and studying cognition and disability in relatives. Methods:, We reviewed current research on cognitive and functional disability in BPD, noted areas of similarity and discrepancy to research on schizophrenia, and highlighted methods and approaches used to study schizophrenia that can be applied to study unmet needs of BPD patients. Results:, Research in schizophrenia increasingly separates potential functional capacity from real-world outcome status, and has assessed contributions of cognitive impairment and other illness factors to functional outcomes. For schizophrenia, various behavioral and pharmacological treatments aimed at cognitive enhancement have been attempted, with moderate success, compared to rare studies of treatment effects on cognitive impairment in BPD. Very little research has been performed in the occurrence of cognitive impairments in first-degree relatives of people with BPD, despite evidence that cognitive impairments may be stable traits across symptomatic status in people with BPD. Conclusions:, Research and treatment approaches developed for schizophrenia can productively be applied to the study and treatment of patients diagnosed with BPD, notably including studies of the characteristics of and treatments for functional impairment related to cognitive deficits. [source] Modulation of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate concentration by prolyl endopeptidase inhibitionFEBS JOURNAL, Issue 23 2002Ingo Schulz Prolyl endopeptidase (PEP) is a proline-specific oligopeptidase with a reported effect on learning and memory in different rat model systems. Using the astroglioma cell line U343, PEP expression was reduced by an antisense technique. Measuring different second-messenger concentrations revealed an inverse correlation between inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3] concentration and PEP expression in the generated antisense cell lines. However, no effect on cAMP generation was observed. In addition, complete suppression of PEP activity by the specific inhibitor, Fmoc-Ala-Pyrr-CN (5 µm) induced in U343 and other cell lines an enhanced, but delayed, increase in Ins(1,4,5)P3 concentration. This indicates that the proteolytic activity of PEP is responsible for the observed effect. Furthermore, the reduced PEP activity was found to amplify Substance P-mediated stimulation of Ins(1,4,5)P3. The effect of reduced PEP activity on second-messenger concentration indicates a novel intracellular function of this peptidase, which may have an impact on the reported cognitive enhancements due to PEP inhibition. [source] | |||||||||||||