What mechanism controls reading comprehension?
By this I mean the ability to understand a sentence after having read it. When the information "sinks" in. A form of memory if you will.
I find stimulants such as Adderall and the racetams DECREASE this ability while increasing FOCUS. That is, I can read the sentences without drifting off by staying on task but find I don't remember or understand as much. I have thought about this for a while and propose two theories as to why it occurs.
1) Acetylcholine - Ach is decreassed by stimulants and racetams burn it up. Because of this neurotransmitters role in memory and mental flexibility a depletion would be responsible for a decrease in comprehension. I find that increasing norepinephrine, which results in reduced acetylcholine, puts me in a wired state where my ability to absorb information is decreased.
2) Glutamate - stimulants increase glutamate and racetams affect its receptors. Glu is a key factor in the learning and memorization process so a depletion may also explain some of the effects.
The fact that the first few days on stimulants/racetams don't reduce comprehension lead me to believe I am indeed depleting something. I would love to know what is responsible for this and if there are substances that can be used to improve this ability.
