Intervening in the brain

The preceding decade has witnessed tremendous progress in clinical as well as theoretical neuroscience. In its wake, powerful new instruments of neuromodulation acting directly on the brain have been developed. However, few areas of scientific development seem to exhibit as close a connection between dreams of progress and nightmares of disaster as contemporary neuroscience. "Mind doping" is a populist slogan at hand, suggesting a deprecatory parallel to the practice of doping in sports. The authors examine a range of questions associated with these problems, include a philosophical analysis of the problems of personal identity, discuss the legal and ethical questions posed by present and foreseeable future practices of neuroenhancement, and conclude with recommendations. From publisher description.