Enhancement of Sensory and Cognitive Functions in Healthy Subjects

Abstract

Cognitive enhancement can be defined as the amplification or extension of core capacities of the mind through augmentation of internal or external information processing systems. Cognitive enhancement could be achieved, among other things, by noninvasive brain stimulation. Noninvasive brain stimulation offers a potential tool for affecting brain functions in the typical and atypical brain and may promote our understanding of brain–behavior relation, and constitute the foundation for rehabilitation efforts. The aim of the present chapter is to introduce up-to-date brain stimulation tools that were successful in enhancing sensory and high-level cognitive functions in healthy individuals. This review mainly focuses on major advances related to language, cognitive control, planning, learning, and memory among healthy individuals and the usage of different methods of brain stimulation such transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), and transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) to improve these different cognitive functions. Toward the end of this chapter, we provide the reader with a methodological section that specifies the different considerations that one should consider when designing and evaluating a brain stimulation experiment in the context of cognitive research. Finally, we conclude the data that was gathered so far, and offer possible procedures of brain stimulation for future experimental research.