Neuroenhancement

There are many supposed nootropics, most having only small effect sizes in healthy individuals. Neuroenhancement's most common pharmacological agents include modafinil and methylphenidate (Ritalin). Stimulants in general and various dementia treatments or other neurological therapies may also affect cognition. Neuroenhancement may also occur from: • mood ('mood enhancement') • motivation • sociability (e.g., talking-related or empathy) • creativity • psychological resilience Enhancers are multidimensional and can be clustered into biochemical, physical, and behavioral enhancement strategies. Modafinil Approved for treating narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, and shift work sleep disorder, modafinil is a wakefulness-promoting drug used to decrease fatigue, increase vigilance, and reduce daytime sleepiness. In sustained sleep deprivation, repeated use of modafinil helped individuals maintain higher levels of wakefulness than a placebo, but did not help attention and executive function. Modafinil may impair one's self-monitoring ability; a common trend found in research studies indicated that participants rated their performances on cognitive tests higher than it was, suggesting an "overconfidence" effect. Others Studies are too preliminary to determine whether there are any cognitive-enhancing effects of agents such as memantine or acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (examples: donepezil, galantamine). gastrointestinal complaints (nausea), headache, dizziness, nightmares, anxiety, drowsiness, nervousness, restlessness, sleep disturbances, and insomnia, The side effects normally ceased in the course of treatment. Various factors, such as dosage, timing and concurrent behavior, may influence the onset of adverse effects. ==Non-pharmacological==

Neurostimulation Neurostimulation methods are being researched and developed. The Internet may be considered a tool for enabling or extending cognition. However, it is not "a simple, uniform technology, [n]either in its composition, [n]or in its use" and, as "an informational resource, currently fails to enhance cognition", partly due to issues that include information overload, misinformation and persuasion. ==Quality and social issues==

Validation and quality control Quality standards, validation and authentication, sampling and lab testing are commonly substandard or absent for products thought to be cognitive enhancers, including dietary supplements. Well-being and productivity Neuroenhancement products or methods are used with the intent to: • improve well-being • possibly encourage societal productivity • increase incentives to develop potential therapies for various brain diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease. ==Prevalence==

In general, people under the age of 25 feel that neuroenhancement agents are acceptable or that the decision to use them is to be made individually. Healthcare officials and parents feel concerned due to safety factors, lack of complete information on these agents, and possible irreversible adverse effects; such concerns may reduce the willingness to take such agents. A 2024 study based on a representative sample of more than 20,000 adults in Germany showed that around 70% of those surveyed had taken substances with the aim of improving mental performance within a year, without a medical prescription. The consumption of caffeinated drinks, such as coffee and energy drinks, was widespread (64% of users), expressly with the aim of improving performance, followed by dietary supplements and home remedies, such as ginkgo biloba (31%). A survey of some 5,000 German university students found a relatively low 30-day prevalence of 1%, while 2% of those sampled used such drugs within the last 6 months, 3% within the last 12 months, and 5% of others used the drugs over their lifetimes. ==See also==