The brain on steroids
Carl Hammerschlag, MD
Remember the famous TV ad that showed a fried egg with a voice over saying "This is your brain on drugs"? (See below for article and commercial.) Now pharmacology is adding new performance enhancing drugs that are being called cosmetic neurology. Is there a link? First there was cosmetic surgery, then cosmetic dentistry to enhance looks; then athletes on steroids and blood doping to enhance athletic performance. Now there is "cosmetic neurology" to enhance brain function. Carl Hammerschlag MD's blog on "cosmetic neurology" looks at this controversial development. He is a psychiatrist and a pioneer in body mind spirit medicine.
(A hint, he doesn't like it.)Soon it won’t only be athletes who are tested for performance enhancing drugs before any medals are awarded — Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners might also be tested.The era of doping has entered the academic world; the journal Nature recently reported a finding by Cambridge University professors that a dozen of their colleagues admitted to regular use of prescription drugs like Adderal and Provigil which stimulate the brain. Like cosmetic dentistry, I would add this development under "Just because you can, should you?" heading. To read his Schlagbyte on cosmetic neurology, go to: Schlagbytes - Brain doping
Fried Egg | History of the Partnership | This is Your Brain On Drugs
Carl was a well received and frequent presenter at Rocky Mountain Rendezvous and just recently presented at the annual AADPA meeting in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Check out his other articles while you are on his site. About Carl Hammerschlag, MD
| 
Testimonials
