As demands for cognitive functioning increase in our advanced information culture, numerous methods for enhancing brain function have emerged. The effectiveness and potential risks of these methods have led to debates about their ethical, societal, and medical implications. Public discourse often treats cognitive enhancement as a uniform concept. However, a closer look reveals that cognitive enhancement is actually multifaceted, involving various types of interventions that fall into biochemical, physical, and behavioral categories. These enhancers vary widely in their mechanisms, targeted cognitive domains, timeframes, availability, side effects, and effects on different populations. This study explores the different aspects of cognitive enhancement, evaluates key examples across these dimensions, and proposes a framework for both theoretical and empirical research.
