Smart drugs

Type classification: this is a notes resource.

Completion status: this resource is ~25% complete.

This resource page contains notes about theories and research on smart drugs.

Theoretical perspectives

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Research evidence

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Psychology 102

Currently, this is a Psychology 102 resource page for the essay question: "What are "smart drugs" (also see "cosmetic neurology")? Do smart drugs "work" and if so, how and for what types of tasks and people? What are the risks? Discuss with reference to psychological theories and research." See also:

1. Moodle discussion about this topic
2. Some starting links:
   1. http://delicious.com/jtneill/smartdrugs

Essay feedback

Good essays tended to...

1. Consider positive, null and negative effects of smart drugs

Less good essays tended to....

1. Lack consideration of relevant theory(ies)

References

1. Chatterjee, A. (2004). Cosmetic Neurology: The controversy over enhancing movement, mentation, and mood. Neurology, 63, 969-974.
2. Dees, R. (2007). Better brains, better selves? The ethics of neuroenhancements. Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal, 17, 371-395.
3. Farah, M. (2004). Bioethical issues in the cognitive neurosciences. In M. S. Gazzangia (Ed.), The Cognitive Neurosciences (3rd Edition ed., pp. 1309-1319). Baskerville, Massachusetts: Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
4. Farah, M., Illes, J., Cook-Degan, R., Gardner, H., Kandel., E., King, P., Parens, E., Sahakian, B., & Wolpe, P. (2004). Science and society. Neurocognitive enhancement: What can we do and what should we do?. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 5, 421-425.
5. Fesenko, U.A. (2009). Piracetam improves children’s memory after general anaesthesia. Anestezjo Inten Ter, 41, 16-21.
6. Forstl, H. (2009). Neuro-enhancement: Brain doping. Nervenarzt, 80, 840-846.
7. Mehta, M., Owen, A., Sahakian, B., Mavaddat, N., Pickard, J., & Robbins, T. (2000). Methylphenidate enhances working memory by modulating discrete frontal and parietal lobe regions in the human brain. Journal of Neuroscience, 2000, 20:RC65,

1-6.

1. Mindus, P., Cronholm, B., Levander, S., & Schalling, D. (2007). Piracetam-induced improvement of mental performance: A controlled study on normally ageing individuals. Acta Psychiatricia Scaninavica, 54, 150-160.
2. Nieolullon, A., (2002). Dopamine and the regulation of cognition and attention. Progress in Neurobiology, 67, 53-83. Abstract retrieved July 28, 2009, from Science Direct Database.

Ramaekers, J. (2006). Editiorial: Drugs promoting wakefulness and performance. Current Pharmacuetical Design, 12, 2455-2456.

1. Rose, S. (2002). 'Smart drugs': Do they work? are they ethical? will they be legal?.

Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 3, 975-979.

1. Sahakian, B., & Morein-Zamir, S. (2007). Commentary: Professor’s little helper. Nature, 450, 1157-1159.
2. Sussman, S., Pentz, M., Spruijt-Metz., & Miller, T. (2006). Misuse of “study drugs”: Prevalence, consequence, and implications for policy. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention and Policy, 1, 1-15.
3. Wilkinson, D. (1999). The pharmacology of donepezil: A new treatment for alzeihmer’s disease. Expert opinion on Pharmacotherapy, 1, 121-135. Summary retrieved from http://www.informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.1517/14656566.1.1.121
4. Yesavage, J., Mumenthaler, M., Taylor, J., Friedman, L., O’Hara, R., Sheikh, J., Tinkleberg, J., & Whitehouse, P. (2002). Donepezil and flight simulator performance: Effects on retention of complex skills. Neurology, 59, 123-125.