Abstract

Cognitive enhancement refers to any technology that raises some aspect of cognition beyond the species-typical level. It is often considered distinct from and less controversial than cognitive therapy, which raises the cognition of a deficient individual to the species-typical level. The debate over CE is a result of the excitement surrounding the potential of neuroscience to one day enable us to enhance our own cognition in significant ways. Some of the aspects of cognition targeted by enhancement and therapeutic technologies include wakefulness, focus, memory, and executive function, or the ability to plan, organize, and complete tasks. We all regularly use cognitive enhancers without...