Sense of Wonder | On some artificial enhancements to cognitive capabilities

 There are two main approaches: machines that stimulate the brain and specific pharmaceuticals.

 Since direct electrical stimulation of the brain by electrodes has many drawbacks, including the impossibilities to generate non-localized effects of the stimulation and the difficulties to reach profound parts of the brain, a promising technology could be Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, a tecnique that is used to map the motor cortex and to suppress concrete functions of the brain. It has been shown that when applied to the front part of the brain it speeds up the ability to solve puzzles that require analogical reasoning.

Cogniceuticals

There are already some memory enhancing drugs. For example, Memantine, used to treat Alzheimer’s Disease, is an antagonist that blocks NMDA signalling, improving memory acquisition in these patients. Obviously, it doesn’t work for normal people; for them, it would be possible to use the trial drug Ampalex, from Cortex Pharmaceuticals, that boosts a neurotransmitter, called glutamate, activating its associate protein, the AMPA receptor, which activates the NMDA receptor. Another drug in test, from Nobel prize Eric Kandel's Memory Pharmaceuticals, will boost the messenger molecule cyclic-AMP and CREB levels, which strengthen neural connectivity and consolidate memories, respectively.

Provigil/Modafinil: without addictions or the side effects of amphetamines, this drug keeps individuals awake for two days. Although originally developed to treat sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome, it has recently been approved to treat excessive sleepiness associated with Shift Work Sleep Disorder. Additionally, it has begun to be used by students all over the world.