What do you take for your brain?
April 11th, 2008
After reading Sharon Begley’s informative book on the brain, I was glad to find her science blog, Lab Notes.
I just read Juiced, her most recent post. She reports on a survey that asked 1,400 scientists whether they had taken drugs reported to boost brain power.
20% said they’d taken one of the drugs in question “for non-medical reasons to boost my concentration, focus, and memory.” Of those,
- 62% said they’d taken Ritalin (prescribed for ADHD)
- 44% said they’d taken Provigil (normally prescribed for sleep disorders; also has “a street reputation for keeping you awake for all-nighters”)
- 15% took beta blockers (prescribed for cardiac arrhythmia but known for an anti-anxiety effect)
Begley says:
My favorite reason [for taking these drugs without having a condition like ADHD]? This one, from a scientist who described him- or herself as over 65:
“As a professional, it is my duty to use my resources to the greatest benefit of humanity. If ‘enhancers’ can contribute to this humane service, it is my duty to do so.�
If you’d like to follow up:
- The post on Nature Network, announcing survey results
(includes links to downloadable files with the full results). - Nature News’ summary of the results
Prescription Starbucks photo by quinn.anya / Quinn Dombrowski
April 11th, 2008 at 10:58 am
Sleep. When I can get it. That’s what I takes…
April 11th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Cammy, you’re apparently an exception to the 280 scientists who were taking things like Ritalin to keep themselves going (or going better).
April 14th, 2008 at 9:16 am
But I wouldn’t call myself a scientist, either…