Who uses brain-boosting drugs?
In 2007, Sahakian and colleague Sharon Morein-Zamir surveyed their Cambridge colleagues on the use of brain-boosting drugs. They found a surprising degree of acceptance of the practice, at least in principle. This led Nature to poll its readers. The poll suggested that one in five Nature readers — mostly scientists — had used stimulant drugs for nonmedical reasons in order to stimulate their focus, concentration, or memory. Studies suggest that between 5% and 15% of college students use brain-boosting drugs. Most use Ritalin or Adderall while Provigil use remains uncommon. The Nature poll also found that many people take beta-blockers, such as Inderal.
