Scientists take drugs to boost brain power: study

[flashl]

PARIS (AFP) - Twenty percent of scientists admit to using performance-enhancing prescription drugs for non-medical reasons, according to a survey released Wednesday by Nature, Britain's top science journal.

The overwhelming majority of these med-taking brainiacs said they indulged in order to "improve concentration," and 60 percent said they did so on a daily or weekly basis.

The 1,427 respondents -- most of them in the United States -- completed an informal, online survey posted on the "Nature Network" Web forum, a discussion site for scientists operated by the Nature Publishing Group.

More than a third said that they would feel pressure to give their children such drugs if they knew other kids at school were also taking them.

YN

[whistle]

1. Insane world isn't it

[napoleon_in_rags]

2. I can totally see it. Paul Erdos was a speed freak.

And one of the most published mathematicians around. He said when he was off speed, the blank piece of paper was boring, but when he was on it, it came alive with mathematical possibilities, and he'd just start writing them down.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Erd%C5%91s

[SteinbachMB]

3. Life is short

so why not take advantage of what science has to offer? Makes sense to me.

[TZ]

4. Oh Bullshit

I've worked with my share of "brainiacs" and outside of lots of coffee caffinated drinks, NOT ONE I have ever met has used anything illegal. I'm betting most of the "boosters" they are talking about are caffeine related. Kind of hard to work productively if you are constantly crashing from the illegals.

[enki23]

5. almost all of them use xanthines to keep them going

of course, the corporate world is chock full of that as well. maybe even worse.