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There is weak evidence that neuropharmaceuticals are widely used for neuroenhancement, doubts about whether these substances enhance real world cognitive performance in normal subjects, and few studies of their safety or efficacy in regular sustained use. More scepticism is needed about neuroenhancement claims for pharmaceuticals and we need to avoid normalizing such use by inflating its prevalence.

Some influential neuroethicists have argued that it is ethically permissible for normal healthy adults to use neuropharmaceuticals to enhance ‘cognitive or neural functioning’[1]. Some claim that drugs such as Modafinil and methylphenidate are already used widely in this way [2]. Others have provided advice to prescribers on how to respond to requests from healthy adults for such drugs [3]. An influential group has argued that pharmaceutical companies should be allowed to market drugs for enhancement …