25 February 2013

As part of our research on cognitive enhancement, we examined whether it would be possible to push the boundaries of the human brain and to use electronic brain stimulation to improve performance in even the highest functioning human brains. As part of this research we examined

whether Dr Gert Mittring, a mental calculation champion who has won the mental calculation gold medal every year from 2004 to 2012, will be able to improve his calculation abilities. The results from this project will have important implications for the possibilities of using brain stimulation to improve cognitive abilities also in those at the higher end of the ability spectrum, which opens the door to a wide variety of potential uses in the future, but also raises ethical concerns for increasing cognitive disparity.