How common are means of increasing mental performance?

Sociologist Dr Sebastian Sattler talks about the spread and social impact of neuro-enhancement in an interview with research_tv, a series from Bielefeld University. Neuro-enhancement refers to methods designed to make the brain more efficient. Sattler is leading the largest representative study to date on the spread and causes of neuro-enhancement in Germany. He is also part of the management team of an upcoming conference on interdisciplinary perspectives on neuroenhancement at the Center for Interdisciplinary Research (ZiF) at Bielefeld University.

In the interview, Sebastian Sattler reports that many people deliberately use substances such as caffeine or medication to improve their cognitive performance. ‘People have always tried to improve their performance in some way,’ he says. This tendency extends to the use of illegal substances such as cocaine.

But what about the acceptance of such drugs in demanding professional fields such as medicine? How does consumption influence trust in professionals? This is what Sebastian Sattler discusses in the research_tv interview.

Research project and conference

Dr Sebastian Sattler leads the ENHANCE research project on cognitive performance enhancement in Germany together with Professor Dr Guido Mehlkop (University of Erfurt). It has been funded by the German Research Foundation since 2017. The first phase of the project comprised a survey of more than 20,000 people. The project initiated the international workshop on neuroenhancement, which will be held at the ZIF at Bielefeld University from 10 to 12 December. The conference is sponsored by the ZiF and the Fritz Thyssen Foundation.