Event Abstract Back to Event Cosmetic Neurology: ethical considerations and public attitudes Anjan Chatterjee1* 1 University of Pennsylvania, Neurology, United States In the wake of our improving abilities to treat the impaired nervous system, we are also learning how we might improve functioning of the healthy nervous system. We can modulate our motor, cognitive, and affective systems in ways that potentially enhance us. Pharmacological enhancements are used widely in some circles and their use is likely to increase. Newer non-invasive stimulation techniques also have the potential to be used as enhancements. These devices are available commercially, which means that people now can acquire potentially enhancing neurotechnologies without access being moderated by medical gatekeepers. If we can make people “better,” should we? Neuro-enhancements raise deep ethical concerns about safety, compromised character, distributive justice, and coercion. Despite the ethical quandaries that arise, prohibition of enhancements is not a viable option. Historic precedents might help guide our thinking about the current and presumed future state of cosmetic neurology. Discussions about ethical enhancement and policy implications of such a practice needs to be informed by knowledge of public attitudes. Our results point out American public is not monolithic in its attitudes towards enhancement, a fact that needs to be taken into consideration in policy discussions. Keywords: Neuroethics, cognitive enhancement, Cosmetic neurology, Pharmacology, neuroscience and society Conference: 2nd International Neuroergonomics Conference, Philadelphia, PA, United States, 27 Jun - 29 Jun, 2018. Presentation Type: Oral Presentation Topic: Neuroergonomics Citation: Chatterjee A (2019). Cosmetic Neurology: ethical considerations and public attitudes. Conference Abstract: 2nd International Neuroergonomics Conference. doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2018.227.00137 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 01 Apr 2018; Published Online: 27 Sep 2019. * Correspondence: Dr. Anjan Chatterjee, University of Pennsylvania, Neurology, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, United States, anjan@mail.med.upenn.edu Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Anjan Chatterjee Google Anjan Chatterjee Google Scholar Anjan Chatterjee PubMed Anjan Chatterjee Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.