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Chemically Modified Minds

Substance Use for Cognitive Enhancement

Palgrave Macmillan
  • Provides a refreshing alternative to current approaches by exploring wider (mis)use of substances for perceived cognitive enhancement

  • Maximizes reader insights by showing the complex reasons substance adoption, the ways in which they are (mis)used, and links between use and cognitive enhancement concerns

  • Offers valuable supplementary information on key points such as dosages, usages, health risks, populations at risk and current interventions

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Hardcover Book USD 169.99
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  • Durable hardcover edition
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Table of contents (8 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xi
  2. Introduction

    • Jamie L. Tully, Mark Forshaw, Matthew Hall, Catharine Montgomery
    Pages 1-12
  3. Nutraceuticals as Cognitive Enhancers

    • Sarah Benson, Andrew Scholey
    Pages 35-58
  4. Being Limitless: A Discursive Analysis of Online Accounts of Modafinil Use

    • Matthew Hall, Mark Forshaw, Catharine Montgomery
    Pages 81-99
  5. Afterword

    • Jamie L. Tully, Mark Forshaw, Catharine Montgomery, Matthew Hall
    Pages 175-179
  6. Back Matter

    Pages 181-183

About this book

This innovative edited collection brings together leading international academics to explore the use of various non-prescription and prescription substances. From a psychosocial perspective, the authors discuss the complex reasons behind their adoption, the ways in which they are misused, and links between use and cognitive enhancement. While studies on substance use to date have examined the aetiology and effects in the context of sporting performance, addiction and recreational use, there has been little work which explores their wider misuse to improve cognitive enhancement.

With medical sociology and social psychology at its core, this important volume shows the complex reasons behind the misuse of various substances, how these are connected to contemporary desire for increased mental performance, and why the potential health risks and possibly harmful side effects do not act as deterrents.

Editors and Affiliations

  • Arden University, Coventry, UK

    Matthew Hall

  • Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK

    Mark Forshaw, Catharine Montgomery

About the editors

Dr Matthew Hall is the Programme Leader for Psychology, and Chair of the Research and Ethics Committee at Arden University; Associate Academic, University of Derby; and Editor for the Journal of Gender Studies. He actively publishes, and his research interests include: health; new, mediated and cyberspace identities; image-based sexual violence; online violations; cognitive enhancement; body modification; disability; gender and sexuality; body image and image consciousness.

Dr Mark Forshaw is a Health Psychologist and Subject Leader at Liverpool John Moores University. He is a Past President of the Institute of Health Promotion & Education, and a previous trustee of the British Psychological Society amongst other organisations. He is the author of numerous books on health psychology, research, and critical thinking.

Dr Catharine Montgomery is a Reader in Psychopharmacology at Liverpool John Moores University. She is co-leader of the Research Centre for Brain and Behaviour at LJMU, and is on the steering group for the Liverpool Centre for Alcohol Research. She has expertise in the effects of substance use on psychological functioning, and has published numerous journal articles and book chapters in this area.


Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Chemically Modified Minds

  • Book Subtitle: Substance Use for Cognitive Enhancement

  • Editors: Matthew Hall, Mark Forshaw, Catharine Montgomery

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-6771-1

  • Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Singapore

  • eBook Packages: Social Sciences, Social Sciences (R0)

  • Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2021

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-981-15-6770-4Published: 31 October 2020

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-981-15-6773-5Published: 01 November 2021

  • eBook ISBN: 978-981-15-6771-1Published: 30 October 2020

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XI, 183

  • Number of Illustrations: 1 b/w illustrations

  • Topics: Sociology, general, Medicine/Public Health, general, Neurosciences, Pharmacology/Toxicology

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access