Science fiction to smart pills

For decades, science fiction has imagined futures in which humans acquire knowledge and skills instantly, bypassing the traditional, time-consuming paths of learning and training. Films such as The Matrix portrayed cognitive enhancement as the ultimate source of power, while later works like Limitless popularised the idea of a pill that unlocks the brain’s full potential. Two decades on, these once-fantastical ideas are no longer confined to cinema; instead, they are increasingly reflected in real-world practices surrounding so-called cognitive enhancers or “smart drugs.” Cognitive enhancers, also referred to as nootropics, are substances used with the intention of improving memory, attention, motivation, wakefulness, and mood.1016/B978-0-12-814350-6.00005-7