The Fourth Wave

We stand at the threshold of a new era: The Fourth Wave. Unlike previous revolutions that transformed the external world—agriculture, industry, information—the Fourth Wave begins from within humanity, at the intersection of genomics, neurotechnology, and artificial intelligence. This book proposes a groundbreaking framework where biology and technology converge to reshape cognition, metacognition, and human identity itself. Drawing on empirical evidence from neuroscience, clinical neurology, and AI research, 'The Fourth Wave' explores how tools such as CRISPR gene editing, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), neurofeedback, and brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are not merely treating disorders but actively redesigning the human mind. It introduces the concept of «designed minds» and examines the emergence of artificial metacognition, hybrid human-machine networks, and the philosophical redefinition of consciousness, autonomy, and mortality. Through twenty-three interdisciplinary chapters—from molecular biology to planetary evolution—the book balances rigorous science with forward-looking speculation. It serves as a reference for researchers, a methodological aid for clinicians, a textbook for advanced courses in cognitive science and philosophy of AI, and a manifesto for anyone concerned with the ethical and existential dimensions of human enhancement. 'The Fourth Wave' does not predict a fixed future but invites readers into an endless journey of questions, possibilities, and responsible innovation.