Cognitive enhancement means using different ways to help improve how our brains work. This includes thinking better, remembering more, paying attention, and solving problems. People can achieve this improvement in many ways, such as through medicine, brain stimulation techniques, brain training, and healthy lifestyle choices.

Types of Cognitive Enhancement Strategies:

1. Medicine:

   • Some medicines, like amphetamines and modafinil, can help improve attention and thinking skills by increasing chemicals in the brain called dopamine and norepinephrine.
   • It's reported that about 20% of college students have used these types of prescription medicine without a doctor’s approval to do better in school.

2. Brain Stimulation Techniques:

   • Techniques like Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) can change how brain cells work.
   • TMS can make working memory better by up to 30% in certain parts of the brain.

3. Brain Training:

   • Programs that help improve specific thinking skills can really make a difference. Research shows that following structured brain training can boost working memory by as much as 15%.

4. Healthy Lifestyle Changes:

   • Regular exercise can lower chances of brain decline by about 30%, and eating a Mediterranean diet full of omega-3 fatty acids is great for brain health.

Impact on Brain Function:

Using cognitive enhancement strategies can really help our brains work better. For example:

• These strategies can help improve synaptic plasticity, which is important for learning and remembering things.
• More brain cell growth, especially in an area called the hippocampus, is linked to better memory.
• Doing brain activities regularly can lower the risk of memory problems by almost 40% in older people.

In short, cognitive enhancement includes different methods that can effectively boost brain function and improve overall brain health.