12 replies to this topic

[scottl]

What does everyone think of this?:

http://www.edgeeffec...edge_effect.htm

All of the primary neurotransmitters are at work in every brain, but each of us has a dominant one that defines who we are4. Dr. Braverman completes the circle that has been thousands of years in the making by connecting brain chemistry with behavioral temperament. The first symptoms you experience when you start to lose your edge are likely caused by a deficiency in your dominant neurotransmitter. If this is not addressed, other neurotransmitters could start to burn out trying to compensate for the initial deficiency. A domino effect occurs, with parts of the body overworking or shutting down, leading to more symptoms. If you know your temperament you will know your dominant brain chemical:


Rationalists or Strategic Thinkers: characterized by power and control, competence, capability, knowledge. CEOs, generals, doctors, scientists, and architects are dopamine-dominant.



Idealists or Dreamers: characterized by reflection, self-discovery, creativity, becoming. Counselors, mediators, ministers, public service professionals, writers, artists, and actors are acetylcholine-dominant.



Guardians or Traditionalists: characterized by tradition, conformity, belonging, loyalty, commitment. Administrators, accountants, security officers, nurses, technicians, air-traffic controllers, news reporters, EMTs, bus drivers, and homemakers are GABA-dominant.



Artisans or Dionysians: characterized by sensations, work-as-play, non-conformity, free thinking, living for today. Construction workers, stevedores, crane operators, oil rigers, truck and ambulance drivers, military personnel, hair stylists, bartenders, and pilots are serotonin-dominant.


If you don't see yourself in one of the above, there are proven multiple-choice tests that have beendeveloped to identify behavioral dominance. How does this help you stay healthy?


The Edge Effect makes it clear that there are 'families' of illnesses related to each of the four dominant brain chemicals. The path to health involves:


- Identifying your dominant neurotransmitter;
- Recognizing any neurotransmitter deficiencies at an early stage;
- effecting neurotransmitter-specific remedies.

[scottl]

Also here:

http://www.pathmed.c...n1-11-14-02.pdf

[nootropi]

I really do not believe it is quite that simple.  I always take an equivalent step of caution when someone claims to "be sure."

Ha ha, "what is my dominant neurotransmitter..?"

[scottl]

Nootropi,

No typing system is ever 100% true (or maybe even 80% true) e.g. endomorph, ecto..., ancient indian (country) medicine called ayurvedic, etc. The question is is there information in there that can be useful?

"what is my dominant neurotransmitter"

If you ignore the book and the links, given that the different neurotransmitters have different affects on behavior and temperament, is would seem reasonable that different people are "biased" differently.  If there are clues as to what these biases are it would be interesting to explore...as a starting point, not as something to take as gospel.....

Do you fit easily/well  into any of the categories?  I do fit well into the acetyl choline dominant.

[nootropi]

Hey scott,

I am not trying to discredit the source so much as to question how we can draw such conclusions about the most complex and misunderstood organ in the human body when we know so little about it.

[scottl]

Nootropi,

I work with and know of many systems of non-conventional medicine that I know from personal experience work even if I'm not sure of the explanations.  So I look at this as something interesting to experiment with.  I happen to fit the acetylcholine type and have CDP choline, lecithin and glantamine to experiment with.

[pinballwizard]

scottl said:

What does everyone think of this?:

Rationalists or Strategic Thinkers: characterized by power and control, competence, capability, knowledge. CEOs, generals, doctors, scientists, and architects are dopamine-dominant.

Idealists or Dreamers: characterized by reflection, self-discovery, creativity, becoming. Counselors, mediators, ministers, public service professionals, writers, artists, and actors are acetylcholine-dominant.

Guardians or Traditionalists: characterized by tradition, conformity, belonging, loyalty, commitment. Administrators, accountants, security officers, nurses, technicians, air-traffic controllers, news reporters, EMTs, bus drivers, and homemakers are GABA-dominant.

Artisans or Dionysians: characterized by sensations, work-as-play, non-conformity, free thinking, living for today. Construction workers, stevedores, crane operators, oil rigers, truck and ambulance drivers, military personnel, hair stylists, bartenders, and pilots are serotonin-dominant.

These are the exact 4 types from Myers-Briggs (MB) type indicator.  Searching his site you find he does MB testing.  MB consists of four groups of 4 types in each for a total of 16.  These are the four groups and even the names are the same.  

#NT# =Rationalists= dopamine
#NF# =Idealists or Dreamers =acetyl-choline
#S#J =Guardians or Traditionalists = GABA
#S#P =Artisans or Dionysians=Serotonin

Having read a great deal about MB and personality years ago, I can say that this might have some truth to it.

I guess this books says that certain types need to make sure they get their dose of neurotransmitter...  I am a rationalist...seems like I always need a pick me up. I would have thought Acetyl-choline or Dopamine.

Can you get edge by changing the foods you eat?  
Can you change your mood eating different foods?  
Is this doctor really smart and onto something?

I dont know.  I think the brain is really complicated.  I do think this book is beneficial.  

I think we need more taxonomy, more tests.  That book natural highs split everything into four neurotransmitters as well with its own tests--scott you teased me about the tests.

Nootropi, you are Dopamine Rationalist! HAHAHA.  It has to do with stubborn rational and your fondness for modafinil, lol.

[scottl]

Pinball,

I'll be happy to eat my words where warrented.  However if you mean this post:

http://www.imminst.o...440

i was commenting on:

A. the sillyness of rating how spiritual one is according to a test in the book and
B concerns I had with specific supps

both of which I feel are valid.

I also feel as I commented on there, and as the morelife guy (Paul wakfur) points out, that people here and on Avant are much to quick to...deal wtih stress with supps rather then behavior modification/stress reduction techniques (and I'm not talking tyrosine either).

I confess I did not get past that.  When I have time (and after checking out the book above) I'll check it out.

[Kalepha]

Seems as though Dr. Braverman hasn’t given much thought to lifestyle decisions based on pure reason, independent of neurotransmitter influence.

Rule number one: Medical doctors don’t make good neurophilosophers.

[dirac]

What has been outlined seems a lot like what is in "The Brain Chemistry Plan."

[pinballwizard]

dirac said:

What has been outlined seems a lot like what is in "The Brain Chemistry Plan."

Sidenote:  I just skimmed this book, "The brain chemistry plan".  Here there are 6 major types, instead of the normal 4 from Jung/Myers-Briggs/Etc.

I hope that the "Edge Effect" which Scottl is talking about is better, these books were not very good.  

Here the idea is find out your personality and have a certain diet and supplements.  

Why do these authors associate personality with mental health recommendations?  Probably because they see the same type of people come into their office everyday and they can almost already have them figured out as they walk through the door.

Here is there thought process they go through....  personality-->problems (usually associated with that personality)-->  supplements to be better.

I suggest looking at "natural highs" book.  It is like this in this books basic system:  Problems--> supplements to be better.  Simplicity is better.
eg if problem is memory, then they try to maximize acetyl-choline system, if it is depression, serotonin; if anxiety, GABA....

From The Brain Chemistry Plan book, I was probably mostly Guardian (which is not the same as the Guardian type in the Myers-briggs model which is totally different) and Star.  I fit better in the category 4 system better imho.  Guardians are meat eaters and Stars are vegetarians....  hmmm...  This is good example of why I think the book is flawed, people are more complex and not always fit easily in groups.

All in all, The Brain Chemistry Plan book was good.  (I never give bad book reviews.) It was a little redundant after reading, "natural highs".  In both books, You do get a better understanding of Neurotransmitters which is good for someone with less than 50 posts.

I would much rather have full access to Medline at this point....Just reading abstracts is no fun.  Perhaps one of you guys can PM me your Username and Password?   [lol] Perhaps you have a online access at a university you attend? [lol]

Pinball

[nootropi]

I have full medline access.  Tell me what articles you want, and give me your email account with the largest capacity; I'll try to get them to you.