ABSTRACT
Introduction ............................................................................................................ 126 Cognitive Performance Tools ................................................................................. 126
Brain-Imaging Systems ..................................................................................... 127 Neuropharmaceuticals ............................................................................................ 128 Neural Implants ...................................................................................................... 128 Combination and Convergence of Cognitive Performance Tools .......................... 129 An Ethics Dialogue: The Promises ........................................................................ 130
Improved Cognition .......................................................................................... 130 Viirre ............................................................................................................. 130 Baylis and Downie ....................................................................................... 130
Increased Creativity........................................................................................... 131 Viirre ............................................................................................................. 131 Baylis and Downie ....................................................................................... 131
Improved Communication................................................................................. 132 Viirre ............................................................................................................. 132 Baylis and Downie ....................................................................................... 132
Increased Possibilities for Individual Expression and Increased Individuality ... 133 Viirre ............................................................................................................. 133 Baylis and Downie ....................................................................................... 134
Increased Resistance to Internally Generated Negative States of Mind ........... 134 Viirre ............................................................................................................. 134 Baylis and Downie ....................................................................................... 134
Increased Resistance to Externally Generated Negative States of Mind .......... 135 Viirre ............................................................................................................. 135 Baylis and Downie ....................................................................................... 135
Improved Ethical Conduct ................................................................................ 135 Viirre ............................................................................................................. 135 Baylis and Downie ....................................................................................... 136
In Gazzaniga (2004), cognition is broken down into the following elements: attention, memory, language, speech, emotion, consciousness, and higher cognitive functions. Higher cognitive functions include reasoning and problem-solving skills, the generation and management of mental images, and mathematical and logical skills. All of these cognitive functions are amenable to study, and the mechanisms in the brain that underlie them are actively being researched through conventional empirical educational research as well as research into fundamental brain activities.
