Enhancement
Enhancement
Enhancement (pronunciation: /ɛnˈhænsmənt/) is a term used in various fields of medicine to refer to the improvement or augmentation of a biological function or characteristic.
Etymology
The term "enhancement" originates from the Middle English word "enhauncen", which means to raise or elevate. It is derived from the Anglo-French word "enhaucer" or "enhauncer", which is a combination of "en-" (meaning "cause to") and "haucer" or "hauncer" (meaning "raise").
Medical Usage
In the medical field, enhancement can refer to several concepts:
- Pharmacological enhancement: The use of drugs to improve cognitive, physical, or mental performance. This can include the use of nootropics for cognitive enhancement, anabolic steroids for physical enhancement, or antidepressants for mood enhancement.
- Genetic enhancement: The alteration of an individual's genetic makeup to improve specific traits or characteristics. This can involve techniques such as gene therapy or CRISPR gene editing.
- Surgical enhancement: The use of surgical procedures to improve physical appearance or function. This can include cosmetic surgery, orthopedic surgery, or ocular surgery.
- Neuroenhancement: The use of interventions to improve neural functioning, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation or deep brain stimulation.
Related Terms
- Augmentation: The process of making something greater by adding to it.
- Improvement: The act or process of making something better.
- Optimization: The action of making the best or most effective use of a situation or resource.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Enhancement
- Wikipedia's article - Enhancement
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