Cognition Enhancer Research

oschobero writes to tell us the Economist has a look at pharmaceutical research as it applies to cognition enhancers. While the research is obviously focused on things like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and schizophrenia, the resulting drugs may also have a benefit to healthy minds. "Provigil and Ritalin really do enhance cognition in healthy people. Provigil, for example, adds the ability to remember an extra digit or so to an individual's working memory (most people can hold seven random digits in their memory, but have difficulty with eight). It also improves people's performance in tests of their ability to plan. Because of such positive effects on normal people, says the report, there is growing use of these drugs to stave off fatigue, help shift-workers, boost exam performance and aid recovery from the effects of long-distance flights."

what has been seen...

[bersl2]

Paradoxically, another glutamate-booster, D-cycloserine, is being tested not to enhance memory, but to abolish it. The paradox is resolved because unlearning (or "extinction", in neurological parlance) is a process similar in its details to learning.

By binding to certain glutamate receptors, D-cycloserine selectively enhances extinction, suppressing the effects of conditioned associations such as anxiety, addiction and phobias. According to Dr Robbins, experiments have shown that if a rat is given a cue that it previously associated with fear at the same time as it receives D-cycloserine, the bad memory can be eliminated. Not only may this help remove unpleasant memories...

Does this mean that people might be able to unsee things *coughgoatsecough*

Re:Provigil.

[caffeinemessiah]

I've taking Provigil.

That's a great first sentence to promote a cognition-enhancing drug.

Oh no!

[iminplaya]

Now the competitors in the national spelling bee tournaments will have to rake a piss test.

Re:Provigil.

[Bob of Dole]

ugh. Well, I'm not taking it now, so naturally I'M SLEEPY!

The Crystal Meth-od

[LM741N]

Enhanced my cognition right into the homeless shelter. Now I'm a homeless genius and use the computer at the library to control vast bot nets. Eventually I will rule the world.

Re:what has been seen...

[Bryansix]

Eternal Sunshine on the Spotless Mind.

it's all about the spice

[Anonymous Coward]

It is by will alone I set my mind in motion.
It is by the juice of sapho that thoughts acquire speed,
the lips acquire stains.
The stains become a warning.
It is by will alone I set my mind in motion.

What? no soviet russia or overlord jokes?

[ady1]

Slashdot is loosing its touch.

In soviet russia, cognitive enhanced overlords welcome I?

Re:What? no soviet russia or overlord jokes?

[david.given]

Slashdot is loosing its touch.

Remember, if you love something, set it lose...

Re:What? no soviet russia or overlord jokes?

[ady1]

but if I unplug my computer, it will die :(((

Re:phone number 7bit 8bit digit theory

[skraps]

I can remember long sequences of digits with relative ease. For example, my credit card number is 4744-7200-2258-9834. For bonus points, the expiration is 05/12 and the CCV number is 092. Beat that, Provigil!