Associate Professor Jayne Lucke

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Research Interests

Neuroenhancement: Recent developments in neuroscience have raised the possibility that pharmaceuticals may be used to modify brain processes in ways that enhance memory, mood and attention in people who are not impaired by illness or disorder. Some laboratory studies suggest that psychostimulant drugs such as modafinil (Provigil), methylphenidate (Ritalin) and dextroamphetamine/amphetamine (Adderall) are already being widely used for this purpose and that such use is likely to become more common in the near future. This 'neuroenhancement' has been claimed to be a common practice in the popular media and in leading scientific journals such as Science and Nature. There is limited empirical evidence about the practice, limited critical examination of the evidence that these drugs actually improve normal functioning, and no information about public attitudes towards the practice. My research program aims to inform public policy on the possibility of neuroenhancement by collecting better data on the prevalence of, and attitudes towards, such drug use and critically reviewing the evidence on its safety and efficacy.

Reproductive health: I am an Investigator of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (www.alswh.org.au) and associated with the Centre for Research Excellence in Women's Health in the 21st Century ( www.sph.uq.edu.au/new-centre-to-investigate-biggest-impacts-on-women-s-health). I am particularly interested in aspects of sexual and reproductive health, particularly contraceptive use, patterns of fertility and sexual health. I am a Director of Family Planning Queensland (www.fpq.com.au) and  Chief Investigator on an ARC Linkage grant (2010-2013) investigating patterns of contraception use, access to sexual and reproductive health services and unplanned pregnancy via a longitudinal internet survey of a random sample of 18-23 year old Australian women (www.uqccr.uq.edu.au/cupid).

My background is in social and health psychology. Before joining the Addiction Neuroethics unit at UQCCR I was Deputy Director of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health in the School of Population Health at the University of Queensland, and worked in the Office of Public Policy and Ethics at the Institute of Molecular Bioscience at the University of Queensland researching the ethical and policy implications of scientific developments to prolong human life. My previous roles have included the coordination of research for Blue Care, Queensland's largest provider of community and aged care services, research administration at the University of Manchester and lecturing in psychology and research methods at the University of Huddersfield in the UK. I spent five years at the National Centre for HIV Social Research and a further two years in the University of Queensland's Psychiatry Department evaluating a suicide prevention program for young people.


In The Media

Research Projects

Neuroenhancement:

  • Critically examining the evidence for the claim that neuroenhancement is already commonplace and increasing.
  • Critically examining the evidence that psychotropic drugs can improve normal brain functioning in healthy people.
  • A review of the empirical studies of attitudes towards psychotropic drugs.
  • Interview study of university students' attitudes towards the non-medical use of prescription stimulants.
  • Quantitative survey of university students' non-medical use of prescription stimulants.

Reproductive Health:

  • A longitudinal internet survey of contraception and unplanned pregnancy among Australian women
  • Resolved infertility: who conceives without infertility treatment after a period of infertility?
  • Uptake of novel methods of contraception
  • Aspirations for children: how closely do they match final family size?

Key publications

Neuroenhancement:

Partridge B, Bell SK, Lucke JC, Yeates S & Hall WD. (2011). Smart drugs "as common as coffee": media hype about neuroenhancement. PLoS One, 6(11): e28416.

Lucke J, Bell S, Partridge B. & Hall W. (2011) Deflating the neuroenhancement bubble. American Journal of Bioethics - Neuroscience, 2(4): 38-43.

Lucke JC, Bell S, Partridge B, Hall W. (2011) Academic doping or Viagra for the brain? The history of recreational drug use and pharmacological enhancement can provide insight into these uses of neuropharmaceuticals. EMBO Reports 12: 197-201.

Hall W & Lucke J. The enhancement use of neuropharmaceuticals: more scepticism and caution needed. Addiction, 105, 2041-2043

 

Reproductive Health:

Lucke JC, Herbert DL, Loxton D & Weisberg, E. (2011) Improving access to contraceptive services is the best way to reduce unintended pregnancies. Australian Family Physician, 40(11): 849.

Lucke J, Herbert D, Watson M, & Dobson A. (2011) Contraceptive changes after reproductive events among Australian women born 1973-78: A longitudinal study from 1996-2009. Women's Health Issues, 21(6): 438-443.

Johnstone M, Lucke J & Lee C. (2011) Influences of marriage, motherhood and other life events on Australian women's employment aspirations?" Psychology of Women Quarterly 35: 267-281.

Herbert D, Lucke J & Dobson A. Early users of fertility treatment with hormones and IVF: women who live in major cities and have private health insurance, ANZJPH 2010; 34(6): 629-634.

Contact details and email

Associate Professor Jayne Lucke

Principal Research Fellow

Addiction Neuroethics, UQCCR

The University of Queensland

Room 709, Building 71/918, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital Site, Herston Qld 4029, Australia

T +61 7 3346 6031 | F +61 7 3346 5598 | E j.lucke@uq.edu.au

Funding acknowledgement

National Health and Medical Research Council

Australian Research Council

Technique Expertise

Qualitative and quantitative social research methods

Research Staff

Dr Brad Partridge, PhD

Stephanie Bell - Senior Research Technician

Dr Danielle Herbert - Research Fellow - Project Coordinator, CUPID

Collaborations

Contraception and Unplanned Pregnancy in Australian Women (Dr Deborah Loxton, University of Newcastle, Professor Christina Lee, University of Queensland, Professor Annette Dobson, University of Queensland, Professor Ian Fraser, University of Sydney, Professor Edith Weisberg, Family Planning NSW)

Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (Professor Annette Dobson, School of Population Health and Professor Christina Lee and Dr Melissa Johnstone, School of Psychology, University of Queensland; Dr Deborah Loxton, Centre for Gender, Health and Ageing, University of Newcastle)

Key Words

addiction neuroethics, aging, Australian Longitudinal Study on Women`s Health, bioethics, biomedical enhancement, biomedical technology, cognitive enhancement, contraception, ethics, forecasting, genetics, health policy, infertility, life extension, longevity, neuroenhancement, psychotropic drug use, reproductive techniques, sexual and reproductive health, social research methods women's health