According to available data, the use of medical—especially psychopharmacological—means for enhancing healthy individuals’ mood or cognitive function seems popular among certain groups—and might well further increase in the future. This article sheds some light on ethical controversies regarding such a potential ‘neuro-enhancement’ practice. After a brief look at the debate's history and at some of its conceptual difficulties, potential neuro-enhancement means are introduced to prepare the ground for debating ethical questions. Here, focus topics relating to self-chosen enhancements are risk-taking, autonomy or authenticity of the individual, a potential erosion of human nature or human virtue, issues of social fairness and latent social pressures. Focus topics relating to third-person-induced neuro-enhancement, in particular ‘improving’ children are concerns about a child’s best interests, its right to an open future and the proper limits of parental influence. Other ethical issues addressed in the paper are the role of doctors in neuro-enhancement, and matters of research policy in this field.