Smarter on Drugs

[joecski]

This links to a long story in Scientific American Mind about the new drugs under development to improve brain functioning:
http://www.sciammind.com/article.cfm...7C83414B7F0000

There were two parts of the story that were interesting to me. One was where the author stated:

The reason, it seems to me, is that we think cognitive enhancement is cheating. If, somehow, someone gets ahead through hard work, that's okay. But popping a pill and mastering information after having read it only once seems unfair.
This position makes no sense. Among the normal population are men and women with incredible memories, fast learners of language and music, and those with enhanced capabilities of all kinds. Something in their brains allows them to encode new information at lightning speed. We accept the fact that they must have some chemical system that is superior to ours or some neural circuitry that is more efficient. So why should we be upset if the same thing can be achieved with a pill? In some way, we were cheated by Mother Nature if we didn't get the superior neural system, so for us to cheat her back through our own inventiveness seems like a smart thing to do. In my opinion, it is exactly what we should do.

And the other was this:

Whatever happens, we can be sure that cognitive enhancement drugs will be developed and that they will be used and misused. But just as most people do not choose to alter their mood with Prozac and just as we all reorient our lives in the face of unending opportunities to change our sense of normal, our society will absorb new memory drugs according to each individual's underlying philosophy and sense of self. Self-regulation will occur. The few people who desire altered states will find the means, and those who do not want to alter their sense of who they are will ignore the drug potions. The government should stay out of it, letting our own ethical and moral sense guide us through the new enhancement landscape.

I found the article both enlightening on the topic it presented, it offered a good overview of nootropics and the history/uses of drugs to improve brain function. However, I also found this closing quote to be naive, especially in light of the government witchhunt with steroids. It is amusing that in an era where we are not allowed to self-regulate our use of drugs to improve our bodies, anyone believes we will be given that freedom with drugs for our brains. The article, although long, is worth the time to read, if just for the information on caffeine, a substance that in normally demonized in the media.

[Rogue Drone]

Drugs are a crude way of amping the cortex, soon we will genetically manipulate embryos to come out with more glial cells and neural density. I think it a good thing, the complexity of the issues we face in this interdependent and finite world will necessitate higher average intellect. We collectively better get better, mentally and emotinally, or we probably won't live well, if at all.

IMO, and I know a fair bit about this subject, almost anyone of average intelligence can become a genius, the chemical and electronic tools of enhancement are avaliable now. Software like Brain Builder used reguarly has a strong positive effect on one's awareness.

If interested, look it up on the ABT website and if anyone wants a copy, PM me at Avant. I'll tell you were to get it for free.

[snakebyte05]

Drugs are a crude way of amping the cortex, soon we will genetically manipulate embryos to come out with more glial cells and neural density. I think it a good thing, the complexity of the issues we face in this interdependent and finite world will necessitate higher average intellect. We collectively better get better, mentally and emotinally, or we probably won't live well, if at all.

IMO, and I know a fair bit about this subject, almost anyone of average intelligence can become a genius, the chemical and electronic tools of enhancement are avaliable now. Software like Brain Builder used reguarly has a strong positive effect on one's awareness.

If interested, look it up on the ABT website and if anyone wants a copy, PM me at Avant. I'll tell you were to get it for free.

Just wondering what this brain builder is and what it does? It interests me and I may want a copy.

[Pfunk47]

I would like a copy too - more brain power the better

[bioman]

Pfft! Brains are sooo over-rated.

[joecski]

Pfft! Brains are sooo over-rated.

Actually, this is kind of what I was getting at in my post. I find it ironic that people seem to love their brains and hate their bodies. I just think it is funny that the average person would care that much about improving their IQ a few points but doesn't take the necessary steps to improve their bodies - which would influence their brain indirectly while improving their chances of a long, healthy lifespan. Not that I wouldn't take a drug to help my brain, but I also do all the necessary excercise to improve blood flow to the brain, stay away from artery clogging foods, and avoid excess amounts of alcohol which kills brain cells. How many people do you think would change their lifestyles to improve their IQ?

The use of drugs to improve memory or IQ would be welcome in our society, but the use of drugs to improve athletic performance is unethical. Does that make sense to anyone?

[CDB]

The use of drugs to improve memory or IQ would be welcome in our society, but the use of drugs to improve athletic performance is unethical. Does that make sense to anyone?

No. But when was the last time you encountered anything of this nature that truly did make sense?

[bioman]

When IQ enhancing drugs become widely available I'm sure an entire set of concerns, stigmas and problems will evolve with their use. All it takes is for someone to get their ego bruised by someone who is enhanced and viola, you've got a stigma that leads to widespread resentment that leads to a witch hunt...just like steroids.

There will always be a huge segment of the population that is simply going through the motions of daily life and will never relly self actualize. Hence we have a massive obesity epidemic and are one of the least healthy nations around despite all of our wealth. IMO, people not caring for their bodies is merely symptomatic of not caring for much of anything outside their immediate needs or the needs of their family. It's nothing unusual, wrong or evil but it is sad to see knowing what we, as health nut community, know.

How many of you have tried in vain to help your loved ones...but they just don't seem to care? If you're like me, you're forced to watch them slowly succumb to preventable illnesses, cognitive decline et cetera because they won't so much as take some extra folic acid. They can't be bothered.

The travesty of it is..society needs smart drugs (*Zoolander voice*) really really really badly!

[UnicronSpawn]

Id sure like a copy of that brainbuilder too. Being a genius could come in quite handy, even if its not the be all end all of existance. Hell Id like to to take the smart drugs AND use the brainbuilder program. Alot of things Im into could only benefit from stronger cognitive skills.

[Malek256]

...How many of you have tried in vain to help your loved ones...but they just don't seem to care? If you're like me, you're forced to watch them slowly succumb to preventable illnesses, cognitive decline et cetera because they won't so much as take some extra folic acid. They can't be bothered...

I can attest to that. I watched my mother do ineffectual workouts from lack of intensity and non-stop cheating on a diet. I was benching 300 pounds and had a six pack stomach. So you think she might have given my advice some consideration. Nope.

So she got fatter over the years and then died last year from a sudden heart attack. I remember the week before telling her point blank that if she didn't stop eating this crap it was going to kill her, and it wasn't a new discussion, I tried to tell her this constantly.

But she kept deluding herself, would flex her arm and say "look at that!" as if it was toned but there wasn't much to look at. She just did this to derail the conversation because she didn't want to hear it. Point blank, nobody wants to do what it takes to have a hard, healthy body -- they want a soft life instead.

[UnicronSpawn]

I can attest to that. I watched my mother do ineffectual workouts from lack of intensity and non-stop cheating on a diet. I was benching 300 pounds and had a six pack stomach. So you think she might have given my advice some consideration. Nope.

So she got fatter over the years and then died last year from a sudden heart attack. I remember the week before telling her point blank that if she didn't stop eating this crap it was going to kill her, and it wasn't a new discussion, I tried to tell her this constantly.

But she kept deluding herself, would flex her arm and say "look at that!" as if it was toned but there wasn't much to look at. She just did this to derail the conversation because she didn't want to hear it. Point blank, nobody wants to do what it takes to have a hard, healthy body -- they want a soft life instead.

My condolences about your mother. Thats a really sad story, and its one alot of us have eithered feared would happened to a loved one or allready have had it happen. No matter how much one person wants to help a loved one, and regardless of how right their advice is for that loved one, that person still has to be the ultimate decision maker for what they think is right for them, or in some cases they might decide to do what they know isnt right for them. Your case is one where you had what could have been acknowledged as credibility as a "lead by example" position, an addition to attempting verbal persuation, and the attempts STILL fell flat. And all of us in this little sub-culture either will or have allready had to deal with watching someone close who just wasnt willing to believe or follow our example and or advice, inevitably to their own detriment and ultimately to the detriment of the loved ones who have to watch them deteriorate.

[bioman]

Yeah, I'm kinda dealing with this right now with my own mother. It's sad knowing that you could change their lives if they'd heed your advice, but as Unicorn stated..it's up to them. Ultimately, the success or failure lies with them but it still hurts to watch.

[UnicronSpawn]

its UniCRON Spawn not UniCORN, but thats cool, its a little obscure. its a Transformers reference, only a transformers freak would know what the heck it was from. By the way I like your avatar, Im also a superhero freak. (meaning I like superhero's not that I am a freakish superhero.)(off topic)

But yeah man I feel you, It is painful to watch that happen to someone you care about.

[UnicronSpawn]

See how my attention is all over the place? This is why I need smart drugs! lol

[Malek256]

See how my attention is all over the place? This is why I need smart drugs! lol

LOL!

And here I thought UniCRON was a Unix reference. Damn I get older by the day (<-- another dumb saying good for a laugh)

[UnicronSpawn]

LOL!

And here I thought UniCRON was a Unix reference. Damn I get older by the day (<-- another dumb saying good for a laugh)

What was I just talking about again? Oh yeah...nevermind.

[kwyckemynd00]

Drugs are a crude way of amping the cortex, soon we will genetically manipulate embryos to come out with more glial cells and neural density. I think it a good thing, the complexity of the issues we face in this interdependent and finite world will necessitate higher average intellect. We collectively better get better, mentally and emotinally, or we probably won't live well, if at all.

IMO, and I know a fair bit about this subject, almost anyone of average intelligence can become a genius, the chemical and electronic tools of enhancement are avaliable now. Software like Brain Builder used reguarly has a strong positive effect on one's awareness.

If interested, look it up on the ABT website and if anyone wants a copy, PM me at Avant. I'll tell you were to get it for free.

Sounds interesting to me, YGPM @ avant That's actually a subject I think I could become very interested in

[Rogue Drone]

I guess we all know someone who should change, including ourselves, and won't. I've had better success getting people to add compensatory supplements and basics like walks than to subtract behaviors, taking away is much harder than adding something. My brother is a lifelong smoker, can't quit, tried again and again, at least now he's on Green Tea, NAC, Grapeseed and Fish Oil as partial compensation.

The brain tech I referred to is at http://www.toolsforwellness.com there's some silly new age shiite there, and also some really effective tools. Get a copy of the free printed catalog if interested, twice the info per item versus the webpages.

[asap nutrition]

Very interesting article. Can't wait to research the possibilities.

[rugger48]

Actually, this is kind of what I was getting at in my post. I find it ironic that people seem to love their brains and hate their bodies. I just think it is funny that the average person would care that much about improving their IQ a few points but doesn't take the necessary steps to improve their bodies - which would influence their brain indirectly while improving their chances of a long, healthy lifespan. Not that I wouldn't take a drug to help my brain, but I also do all the necessary excercise to improve blood flow to the brain, stay away from artery clogging foods, and avoid excess amounts of alcohol which kills brain cells. How many people do you think would change their lifestyles to improve their IQ?

The use of drugs to improve memory or IQ would be welcome in our society, but the use of drugs to improve athletic performance is unethical. Does that make sense to anyone?

Whats even more amazing is people who like to take great care of there bodies and are in good shape like to exercise there mind to. Its neat to see, some of the smartest people I have met are guys that are 220-230 under 10% body fat and Im not talking just about exercise and nutrition.