mental enhancement?

[Dr. Biology]

I have read on WebMD and other websites about studies on how ginko biloba extract supplements and Phosphodatyl Serine supplements may improve memory, cognitive function, learning, and improve mental clarity. A friend claims that they increased his test performance by a few points. I am quite skeptical. What do you guys think? (if it helps, around the same time he started taking it he went from a solid B student to making A's and A-'s in Bio, calc, chem etc.)

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[Halfdolphy]

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[606577]

I am extremely skeptical about these sorts of psych studies. I think what really helps is to invest more time in activities that require high concentration with long term reward (reading, painting, working on cars, studying for the MCAT) and less time in passive short term reward activities (TV, browsing SDN etc)

I noticed I have a real tendency to zone out. Even in conversations with people. When I started switching my activities over. I became much more sharp.

 

[Lucca]

I am extremely skeptical about these sorts of psych studies. I think what really helps is to invest more time in activities that require high concentration with long term reward (reading, painting, working on cars, studying for the MCAT) and less time in passive short term reward activities (TV, browsing SDN etc)

I noticed I have a real tendency to zone out. Even in conversations with people. When I started switching my activities over. I became much more sharp.

This is literally the only secret to succeeding in life.

As for OPs friend...placebo effect? I too am very skeptical about "supplements" unless I fully understand the chemical pathway in which it functions.

 

[bltng]

If you really want experiences especially coming from a person that's also in medicine, here's a link from a forum popular for these types of supplements you're talking about. Read through them, a lot may be just anecdotal but they also back up their findings with A LOT of research studies.

http://www.longecity . org /forum/topic/58410-reflections-from-a-med-student/

 

[Dr. Biology]

I took stats with him last semester, we went to highschool together. He was the guy who could barely pull a C in freshman Algebra, he ended up with a 93 average in stats (a class with a 60% failure rate at my University).

 

[ponyo]

My neuropsychopharmacology professor had a very favorable opinion of gingko extracts. I've never investigated the studies myself, but there certainly seems to be experts in the field who think those studies are not without merit. And it makes sense that they wouldn't be picked up by pharma, since they can't patent them. If you are genuinely interested I think it's a good idea to dig through the studies yourself and decide whether or not they are sufficiently rigorous and convincing.

But obviously also pay attention to the toxicity/side effects. I don't think gingko is a big deal, but some of those can have quite alarming psychoactive side effects.

 

[BillrothI]

From Cochrane:

Ginkgo biloba appears to be safe in use with no excess adverse effects compared with placebo. Many of the early trials used unsatisfactory methods, were small, and publication bias cannot be excluded. Overall, evidence that Ginkgo has predictable and clinically significant benefit for people with dementia or cognitive impairment is inconsistent and unreliable. Of the four most recent trials to report results, three found no difference between Ginkgo biloba and placebo, and one reported very large treatment effects in favour of Ginkgo biloba. - See more at: http://summaries.cochrane.org/CD003...and-cognitive-impairment#sthash.AauJVwdH.dpuf

-Bill

 

[JuanPabloCastel]

Ginkgo is weak in its effects. i've done a bit of research on nootropics, and i've found that many of them are pretty useful. during tough weeks, i take phenylpiracetam, alpha-GPC, creatine, caffeine, and L-theanine. it can get to be pretty expensive, so I dont use them often, but the effects are definitely noticeable on productivity and cognition. Examine.com has a very organized listing of supplements and research for and against their supposed effects, if you're interested.

 

[Being]

I use caffeine and find it to be immensely helpful sometimes, but you need to be very careful with it as the body adapts quickly. Use it too often and you won't gain anything from it: people who drink coffee every day are actually just postponing the withdrawals. I try to limit my intake to 100mg per week or less so I never build up much of a tolerance, and I always have it as an option if I need it.

 

[Thoroughbred_Med]

Personally, I swear by noopept...... I took that quite a bit before my first bio final and literally had a vivid mental picture of the Krebs cycle to lay town on paper for the final.

Liftmode makes the purest and cleanest.

 

[Boolean]

Adderall ftw. Seriously guys, it's amazing. I went from a 3.2 undergrad to a straight 4.0 after starting it.

Which will completely screw you over when you're incapable of performing without it.