October 05, 2003
Better Brains
In case you missed the September 2003 special edition of Scientific American, it was called Better Brains.
Here is the table of contents for this special section
INTRODUCTION
Ultimate Self-Improvement
By Gary Stix
The brain is still an enigma. But that won't stop us from trying to enhance mental functioning
NEUROCHEMISTRY
Taming Stress
By Robert Sapolsky
An emerging understanding of the brain's stress pathways points toward treatments for anxiety and depression beyond Valium and Prozac
NEUROGENESIS
Brain, Repair Yourself
By Fred H. Gage
How do you fix a broken brain? The answers may literally lie within our heads. The same approaches might also boost the power of an already healthy brain
NEUROETHICS
Is Better Best?
By Arthur L. Caplan
A noted ethicist argues in favor of brain enhancement
IMAGING
Mind Readers
By Philip Ross
Brain-scanning machines may soon be capable of discerning rudimentary thoughts and separating fact from fiction
TREATMENT
Stimulating the Brain
By Mark S. George
Activating the brain's circuitry with pulsed magnetic fields may help ease depression, enhance cognition, even fight fatigue
PSYCHIATRY
Diagnosing Disorders
By Steven E. Hyman
Psychiatric illnesses are often hard to recognize, but genetic testing and neuroimaging could someday be used to improve detection
PLASTICITY
The Mutable Brain
By Marguerite Holloway
Score one for believers in the adage "use it or lose it." Targeted mental and physical exercises seem to improve the brain in unexpected ways
ENHANCEMENT
The Quest for a Smart Pill
By Stephen S. Hall
New drugs to improve memory and cognitive performance in impaired individuals are under intensive study. Their possible use in healthy people already triggers debate
The Robert Sapolsky article on Taming Stress is available free full text online. The others are available but for a fee.
A very interesting edition.