| Title: | Neuroenhancement: State of the Art and Future Perspectives |
| Author(s): | Marazziti D; Avella MT; Ivaldi T; Palermo S; Massa L; Vecchia AD; Basile L; Mucci F; |
| Address: | "Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Italy. Unicamillus-Saint Camillus International University of Health Sciences, Rome, Italy. Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Italy" |
| DOI: | 10.36131/cnfioritieditore20210303 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 2385-0787 (Electronic) 1724-4935 (Print) 1724-4935 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Pharmacological neuroenhancement refers to the non-medical use of prescription drugs, alcohol, illegal drugs, or the so-called soft enhancers for the purpose of improving cognition, mood, pro-social behavior, or work and academic performance. This phenomenon is undoubtedly more frequent than previously supposed especially amongst university students. The aim of the present paper was to carefully review and comment on the available literature on neuroenhancement, according to Prisma guidelines. The results showed a great use of all prescribed drugs (benzodiazepines, antidepressants, antipsychotics, nootropic compounds, and especially stimulants) as neuroenhancers amongst healthy subjects, although probably the real prevalence is underestimated. The use of illicit drugs and soft enhancers is similarly quite common. Data on the improvement of cognition by other compounds, such as oxytocin and pheromones, or non-pharmacological techniques, specifically deep brain stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation, are still limited. In any case, if it is true that human beings are embedded by the desire to overcome the limits of their intrinsic nature, neuroenhancement practices put into question the concept of authenticity. Therefore, the problem appears quite complex and requires to be deepened and analyzed with no prejudice, although within an ethical conceptual frame" |
| Keywords: | drugs neuroenhancement university students; |
| Notes: | "PubMed-not-MEDLINEMarazziti, Donatella Avella, Maria Teresa Ivaldi, Tea Palermo, Stefania Massa, Lucia Vecchia, Alessandra Della Basile, Lucia Mucci, Federico eng Italy 2021/12/16 Clin Neuropsychiatry. 2021 Jun; 18(3):137-169. doi: 10.36131/cnfioritieditore20210303" |
