Comments on: Should Students Be Tested for Brain-Enhancing Drugs? http://singularityhub.com/2009/10/06/should-students-be-tested-for-brain-enhancing-drugs/ The Future Is Here Today...Robotics, Genetics, AI, Longevity, The Brain... Thu, 24 May 2012 00:37:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: Cosmetic Neurology: Every students dream? « jessywessywoooo http://singularityhub.com/2009/10/06/should-students-be-tested-for-brain-enhancing-drugs/#comment-54111 Cosmetic Neurology: Every students dream? « jessywessywoooo Wed, 21 Mar 2012 13:43:19 +0000 http://singularityhub.com/?p=7838#comment-54111 [...] http://singularityhub.com/2009/10/06/should-students-be-tested-for-brain-enhancing-drugs/ [...] [...] http://singularityhub.com/2009/10/06/should-students-be-tested-for-brain-enhancing-drugs/ [...]

]]> By: Gene for Intelligence Revealed by Studying Williams Syndrome | Singularity Hub http://singularityhub.com/2009/10/06/should-students-be-tested-for-brain-enhancing-drugs/#comment-44744 Gene for Intelligence Revealed by Studying Williams Syndrome | Singularity Hub Tue, 19 Apr 2011 21:21:41 +0000 http://singularityhub.com/?p=7838#comment-44744 [...] variation a boost in intelligence. We’re talking about the possibility of a real nootropic therapy that could affect a huge portion of the population. That’s exciting [...] [...] variation a boost in intelligence. We’re talking about the possibility of a real nootropic therapy that could affect a huge portion of the population. That’s exciting [...]

]]> By: How do Nootropics work? | Cognitive Critique http://singularityhub.com/2009/10/06/should-students-be-tested-for-brain-enhancing-drugs/#comment-42163 How do Nootropics work? | Cognitive Critique Tue, 01 Mar 2011 23:44:58 +0000 http://singularityhub.com/?p=7838#comment-42163 [...] Should Students Be Tested for Brain-Enhancing Drugs? | Singularity Hub – If you could take a pill to make you temporarily smarter, would you? The use of brain-enhancing drugs in colleges continues to rise and a recent paper in. This entry was posted in Cognitive enhancer, Nootropil. Bookmark the permalink. ← 3 Brain Gym Exercises Anyone Can Do [...] [...] Should Students Be Tested for Brain-Enhancing Drugs? | Singularity Hub – If you could take a pill to make you temporarily smarter, would you? The use of brain-enhancing drugs in colleges continues to rise and a recent paper in. This entry was posted in Cognitive enhancer, Nootropil. Bookmark the permalink. ← 3 Brain Gym Exercises Anyone Can Do [...]

]]> By: Jennine Rutiaga http://singularityhub.com/2009/10/06/should-students-be-tested-for-brain-enhancing-drugs/#comment-20999 Jennine Rutiaga Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:30:33 +0000 http://singularityhub.com/?p=7838#comment-20999 very interesting, learn a lot!. if you want... take a look on our web page lather. very interesting, learn a lot!. if you want… take a look on our web page lather.

]]> By: Jennine Rutiaga http://singularityhub.com/2009/10/06/should-students-be-tested-for-brain-enhancing-drugs/#comment-32688 Jennine Rutiaga Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:30:00 +0000 http://singularityhub.com/?p=7838#comment-32688 very interesting, learn a lot!. if you want... take a look on our web page lather. very interesting, learn a lot!. if you want… take a look on our web page lather.

]]> By: Andre "Brain Fitness Coach" Auerbach http://singularityhub.com/2009/10/06/should-students-be-tested-for-brain-enhancing-drugs/#comment-17601 Andre "Brain Fitness Coach" Auerbach Sun, 02 May 2010 02:12:48 +0000 http://singularityhub.com/?p=7838#comment-17601 They most certainly should! Consuming these brain-enhancing pills are harmful to say the least! They are also, in a way, cheating and most of these drugs can be addictive. They most certainly should! Consuming these brain-enhancing pills are harmful to say the least! They are also, in a way, cheating and most of these drugs can be addictive.

]]> By: Andre "Brain Fitness Coach" Au http://singularityhub.com/2009/10/06/should-students-be-tested-for-brain-enhancing-drugs/#comment-32687 Andre "Brain Fitness Coach" Au Sun, 02 May 2010 02:12:00 +0000 http://singularityhub.com/?p=7838#comment-32687 They most certainly should! Consuming these brain-enhancing pills are harmful to say the least! They are also, in a way, cheating and most of these drugs can be addictive. They most certainly should! Consuming these brain-enhancing pills are harmful to say the least! They are also, in a way, cheating and most of these drugs can be addictive.

]]> By: New Study Shows Your Ability To Recognize Faces is Genetic | Singularity Hub http://singularityhub.com/2009/10/06/should-students-be-tested-for-brain-enhancing-drugs/#comment-14384 New Study Shows Your Ability To Recognize Faces is Genetic | Singularity Hub Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:52:41 +0000 http://singularityhub.com/?p=7838#comment-14384 [...] that, however: we don’t just want to get smarter through hard work, we want an easy fix. Students regularly use nootropic drugs, herbal supplements are toted as keeping your mind young, and we continually report on studies that [...] [...] that, however: we don’t just want to get smarter through hard work, we want an easy fix. Students regularly use nootropic drugs, herbal supplements are toted as keeping your mind young, and we continually report on studies that [...]

]]> By: Get More Magnesium, Get Smarter | Singularity Hub http://singularityhub.com/2009/10/06/should-students-be-tested-for-brain-enhancing-drugs/#comment-13715 Get More Magnesium, Get Smarter | Singularity Hub Mon, 22 Feb 2010 02:38:39 +0000 http://singularityhub.com/?p=7838#comment-13715 [...] applicable to humans. The bottom line is that most of us would like to be healthier and smarter. Students already take nootropic drugs to score better on tests. Wouldn’t it be nice to take a health supplement instead? In the meantime, eat your [...] [...] applicable to humans. The bottom line is that most of us would like to be healthier and smarter. Students already take nootropic drugs to score better on tests. Wouldn’t it be nice to take a health supplement instead? In the meantime, eat your [...]

]]> By: brunner http://singularityhub.com/2009/10/06/should-students-be-tested-for-brain-enhancing-drugs/#comment-12812 brunner Sun, 17 Jan 2010 04:56:53 +0000 http://singularityhub.com/?p=7838#comment-12812 If anyone needs Ritalin,<br><br>just send an email to<br><br><a href="mailto:brunnerm_82@gmx.at" rel="nofollow">brunnerm_82@gmx.at</a><br><br>best regards<br><br>Markus If anyone needs Ritalin,

just send an email to

brunnerm_82@gmx.at

best regards

Markus

]]> By: Matt http://singularityhub.com/2009/10/06/should-students-be-tested-for-brain-enhancing-drugs/#comment-12753 Matt Thu, 14 Jan 2010 21:14:10 +0000 http://singularityhub.com/?p=7838#comment-12753 If you examine societal gains, I think that you'll find that mental enhancement ranks higher than physical enhancement in sports. If a runner "juices" and can get first place, he may have personal gratification but society is no better off. If a researcher (or team of researchers... or the whole profession) can enhance their focus and become "smarter" and become more effective researchers, their research will have an impact for as long as humans exist. If a researcher can work faster and better and get further in their respective discipline, we are all better for it. If someone can cure a disease faster thanks to taking a few safe pills, I see no reason to stop them. If you examine societal gains, I think that you’ll find that mental enhancement ranks higher than physical enhancement in sports.

If a runner “juices” and can get first place, he may have personal gratification but society is no better off.

If a researcher (or team of researchers… or the whole profession) can enhance their focus and become “smarter” and become more effective researchers, their research will have an impact for as long as humans exist.

If a researcher can work faster and better and get further in their respective discipline, we are all better for it.

If someone can cure a disease faster thanks to taking a few safe pills, I see no reason to stop them.

]]> By: Matt http://singularityhub.com/2009/10/06/should-students-be-tested-for-brain-enhancing-drugs/#comment-32051 Matt Thu, 14 Jan 2010 21:14:00 +0000 http://singularityhub.com/?p=7838#comment-32051 If you examine societal gains, I think that you'll find that mental enhancement ranks higher than physical enhancement in sports. If a runner "juices" and can get first place, he may have personal gratification but society is no better off. If a researcher (or team of researchers... or the whole profession) can enhance their focus and become "smarter" and become more effective researchers, their research will have an impact for as long as humans exist. If a researcher can work faster and better and get further in their respective discipline, we are all better for it. If someone can cure a disease faster thanks to taking a few safe pills, I see no reason to stop them. If you examine societal gains, I think that you’ll find that mental enhancement ranks higher than physical enhancement in sports.

If a runner “juices” and can get first place, he may have personal gratification but society is no better off.

If a researcher (or team of researchers… or the whole profession) can enhance their focus and become “smarter” and become more effective researchers, their research will have an impact for as long as humans exist.

If a researcher can work faster and better and get further in their respective discipline, we are all better for it.

If someone can cure a disease faster thanks to taking a few safe pills, I see no reason to stop them.

]]> By: Ginkgo Biloba Fails Again | Singularity Hub http://singularityhub.com/2009/10/06/should-students-be-tested-for-brain-enhancing-drugs/#comment-12309 Ginkgo Biloba Fails Again | Singularity Hub Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:10:29 +0000 http://singularityhub.com/?p=7838#comment-12309 [...] of supplements, including vitamin D and fish oil. It’s unfortunate that ginkgo isn’t a pill you can take to get smarter, but in the long run we should be happy that we know it’s affects on aging sooner rather than [...] [...] of supplements, including vitamin D and fish oil. It’s unfortunate that ginkgo isn’t a pill you can take to get smarter, but in the long run we should be happy that we know it’s affects on aging sooner rather than [...]

]]> By: Samantha Chaikin http://singularityhub.com/2009/10/06/should-students-be-tested-for-brain-enhancing-drugs/#comment-9267 Samantha Chaikin Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:19:20 +0000 http://singularityhub.com/?p=7838#comment-9267 I thoroughly enjoyed your post. It is really well written and addresses all of the arguments with evidence from published papers and history. The point when you say, “The trouble with evaluating nootropics is that we have such trouble defining intelligence in the first place” I find to be very intriguing. Upon doing my own research on the topic, the same questions that you offered your readers came to mind: “Is a student who takes Ritalin before a test able to remember 5% more? How do you know what they would have remembered in the first place?” I do not think that someone who takes these brain enhancing drugs will all of sudden be significantly smarter than they were prior. It seems that the pills simply boost one’s own natural abilities, perhaps sometimes in a placebo effect. Since the long-term safety of smart drugs in healthy people is unknown, this might be a good, and perhaps sole reason to attempt to restrict their use. Looking at sports enhancements as a point of comparison, and perhaps using similar means of regulating “smart pills” seems to be a bit extreme. I agree with your statement of if we care about a “level-playing field when it comes to thinking”. With regards to success in an academic environment, I do not think taking a medication to heighten one’s own abilities should be restricted. If these drugs allow people to excel in academia, and actually learn and absorb the information needed, I do not see a problem. Looking at sports enhancers (such as steroids) on the other hand, seems like such a different issue because the players are not just helping what they already have, they are building new muscle and strengthening what could not really be done naturally. Overall, this post really got me thinking about the ethics of the situation and if I would take a brain-boosting pill. After much research, I think I would take a pill if there were more evidence on the long-term effects. I agree with you that at this point, it becomes a safety issue. I thoroughly enjoyed your post. It is really well written and addresses all of the arguments with evidence from published papers and history. The point when you say, “The trouble with evaluating nootropics is that we have such trouble defining intelligence in the first place” I find to be very intriguing. Upon doing my own research on the topic, the same questions that you offered your readers came to mind: “Is a student who takes Ritalin before a test able to remember 5% more? How do you know what they would have remembered in the first place?” I do not think that someone who takes these brain enhancing drugs will all of sudden be significantly smarter than they were prior. It seems that the pills simply boost one’s own natural abilities, perhaps sometimes in a placebo effect. Since the long-term safety of smart drugs in healthy people is unknown, this might be a good, and perhaps sole reason to attempt to restrict their use.

Looking at sports enhancements as a point of comparison, and perhaps using similar means of regulating “smart pills” seems to be a bit extreme. I agree with your statement of if we care about a “level-playing field when it comes to thinking”. With regards to success in an academic environment, I do not think taking a medication to heighten one’s own abilities should be restricted. If these drugs allow people to excel in academia, and actually learn and absorb the information needed, I do not see a problem. Looking at sports enhancers (such as steroids) on the other hand, seems like such a different issue because the players are not just helping what they already have, they are building new muscle and strengthening what could not really be done naturally. Overall, this post really got me thinking about the ethics of the situation and if I would take a brain-boosting pill. After much research, I think I would take a pill if there were more evidence on the long-term effects. I agree with you that at this point, it becomes a safety issue.

]]> By: Samantha Chaikin http://singularityhub.com/2009/10/06/should-students-be-tested-for-brain-enhancing-drugs/#comment-32050 Samantha Chaikin Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:19:00 +0000 http://singularityhub.com/?p=7838#comment-32050 I thoroughly enjoyed your post. It is really well written and addresses all of the arguments with evidence from published papers and history. The point when you say, “The trouble with evaluating nootropics is that we have such trouble defining intelligence in the first place” I find to be very intriguing. Upon doing my own research on the topic, the same questions that you offered your readers came to mind: “Is a student who takes Ritalin before a test able to remember 5% more? How do you know what they would have remembered in the first place?” I do not think that someone who takes these brain enhancing drugs will all of sudden be significantly smarter than they were prior. It seems that the pills simply boost one’s own natural abilities, perhaps sometimes in a placebo effect. Since the long-term safety of smart drugs in healthy people is unknown, this might be a good, and perhaps sole reason to attempt to restrict their use. Looking at sports enhancements as a point of comparison, and perhaps using similar means of regulating “smart pills” seems to be a bit extreme. I agree with your statement of if we care about a “level-playing field when it comes to thinking”. With regards to success in an academic environment, I do not think taking a medication to heighten one’s own abilities should be restricted. If these drugs allow people to excel in academia, and actually learn and absorb the information needed, I do not see a problem. Looking at sports enhancers (such as steroids) on the other hand, seems like such a different issue because the players are not just helping what they already have, they are building new muscle and strengthening what could not really be done naturally. Overall, this post really got me thinking about the ethics of the situation and if I would take a brain-boosting pill. After much research, I think I would take a pill if there were more evidence on the long-term effects. I agree with you that at this point, it becomes a safety issue. I thoroughly enjoyed your post. It is really well written and addresses all of the arguments with evidence from published papers and history. The point when you say, “The trouble with evaluating nootropics is that we have such trouble defining intelligence in the first place” I find to be very intriguing. Upon doing my own research on the topic, the same questions that you offered your readers came to mind: “Is a student who takes Ritalin before a test able to remember 5% more? How do you know what they would have remembered in the first place?” I do not think that someone who takes these brain enhancing drugs will all of sudden be significantly smarter than they were prior. It seems that the pills simply boost one’s own natural abilities, perhaps sometimes in a placebo effect. Since the long-term safety of smart drugs in healthy people is unknown, this might be a good, and perhaps sole reason to attempt to restrict their use.

Looking at sports enhancements as a point of comparison, and perhaps using similar means of regulating “smart pills” seems to be a bit extreme. I agree with your statement of if we care about a “level-playing field when it comes to thinking”. With regards to success in an academic environment, I do not think taking a medication to heighten one’s own abilities should be restricted. If these drugs allow people to excel in academia, and actually learn and absorb the information needed, I do not see a problem. Looking at sports enhancers (such as steroids) on the other hand, seems like such a different issue because the players are not just helping what they already have, they are building new muscle and strengthening what could not really be done naturally. Overall, this post really got me thinking about the ethics of the situation and if I would take a brain-boosting pill. After much research, I think I would take a pill if there were more evidence on the long-term effects. I agree with you that at this point, it becomes a safety issue.

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