14 replies to this topic

[Rorororo]

OK, there are LOTS of scientific papers on smart drogs, nootropics, cognitive enhancement techniques etc. Simple google search returs thousends of them. It is incredibly hard to find "gems" - studies providing hard data on real effects. But there are some. I hope I will be able to provide some of them. If you wish, you can help, as it is beyond one man's power to look at all of them. We can create a handy and accessible database of very practical (and scientifcally sound) information.

[Rorororo]

Repantis, Dimitris, et al. "Modafinil and methylphenidate for neuroenhancement in healthy individuals: a systematic review." Pharmacological Research 62.3 (2010): 187-206.

 

Short summary: Modafinil works. Though it is not a miracle and is often overestimated. We don't have any long-time studies, though.

MPH (methylphenidate) does not work as a smart drug.

 

Long summary: For methylphenidate an improvement of memory was found, but no consistent evidence for other enhancing effects was uncovered. Modafinil on the other hand, was found to improve attention for well-rested individuals, while maintaining wakefulness, memory and executive functions to a significantly higher degree in sleep deprived individuals than did a placebo. However, repeated doses of modafinil were unable to prevent deterioration of cognitive performance over a longer period of sleep deprivation though maintaining wakefulness and possibly even inducing overconfidence in a person's own cognitive performance.

[Rorororo]

Repantis, Dimitris, Oona Laisney, and Isabella Heuser. "Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and memantine for neuroenhancement in healthy individuals: a systematic review." Pharmacological research 61.6 (2010): 473-481.

 

Short summary: Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, particularly donepezil, seem to work quite well work. However, there are no studies for for other substances from this family, as well as no long-term studies. Therefore, we have not enough data to make a conclusion.

 

Long summary: donepezil improved the retention of training on complex aviation tasks and verbal memory for semantically processed words. In one study episodic memory was improved, whereas in others it remained unaffected by donepezil. In a sleep deprivation trial, donepezil reduced the memory and attention deficits resulting from 24h of sleep deprivation. Two studies reported even transient negative effects. Regarding the safety profile of donepezil, these studies found that it was rather well tolerated. In any case, since large longitudinal studies are not available no conclusions can be drawn. Seven small studies about the effects of a single dose of memantine, and one study with a single dose of rivastigmine have been reported. Again, these studies are not adequate to answer our research question. If, as here and elsewhere suggested, the concept of pharmaceutical neuroenhancement is not to be rejected in principle, the decision of healthy individuals to take drugs for the purpose of neuroenhancement should be based on exhaustive information. At the moment, the research that would support or oppose the use of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and memantine for neuroenhancement by healthy individuals has not yet been performed.

[lostfalco]

Hey Rorororo, are you familiar with http://examine.com   ?

 

[Rorororo]

Hey Rorororo, are you familiar with http://examine.com   ?

 

Great source, thank you!

[Rorororo]

Hey Rorororo, are you familiar with http://examine.com   ?

 

Well, it seems there are very few scientific studies on real cognitive enhancing effects of nootropics. There are lots of studie quoted, but most of them are on toxicity, or they focus on some specific effect. Or there are in vitro studies or studies on animals. Seems that lot of research is still to be done in this field.
 

Another great source is http://www.cochranelibrary.com/

 

It is not focused on nootropics/supplements, but it contains medical studies with abstracts and summaries translated to "everyday English".

[Rorororo]

Murphy, K. J., Foley, A. G., O’Connell, A. W., & Regan, C. M. (2006). Chronic exposure of rats to cognition enhancing drugs produces a neuroplastic response identical to that obtained by complex environment rearing. Neuropsychopharmacology, 31(1), 90–100.

 

Chronic exposure of rats to nootropics produces a simillar effect as exposure to complex, stimulating and enriching environment. Exposure to BOTH nootropics ane stimulating environment does not provide benefits much greater than any of those two methods alone.

 

My opinion: Though this study has some point, I am not sure it can be applied to humans. For example, nootropics in humans provide not only cognitive enhancement, but also stronger focus, motivation, incentives to further learning and development.

 

Note for further study: What exactly can be considered the best environment for cognitive development?

[Rorororo]

Anyway, does anyone have access to psychological magazines? This articel is supposed to contain a research into what exercises are the best to boost your cognitive powers.

 

Tomporowski, Phillip D. "Effects of acute bouts of exercise on cognition." Acta psychologica 112.3 (2003): 297-324.

 

Sadly, it is behind a paywall.

[Metagene]

Repantis, Dimitris, et al. "Modafinil and methylphenidate for neuroenhancement in healthy individuals: a systematic review." Pharmacological Research 62.3 (2010): 187-206.

Short summary: Modafinil works. Though it is not a miracle and is often overestimated. We don't have any long-time studies, though.
MPH (methylphenidate) does not work as a smart drug.

Long summary: For methylphenidate an improvement of memory was found, but no consistent evidence for other enhancing effects was uncovered.

I'm not up to speed with buspirone however

Attenuation of methylphenidate-induced tolerance on cognition by buspirone co-administration.


http://www.ncbi.nlm....methylphenidate

Edited by Metagene, 21 November 2015 - 12:00 AM.

[Rorororo]

Modafinil vs. sleep deprivation:

 

Sleep deprivation is bad. Long-term sleep deprivation more than nullifies even the strongest nootropics. However, what to do if you just can't get full sleep?

 

If your sleep deprivation is shorter (+- 24 hours), drugs like modafinil can actually give you more benefits than taking a nap.

With longer sleep deprivation (48 h +), a short nap is actually much more efficient than modafinil.

 

However, most efficient is a short nap followed by a dose of modafinil.

 

Source: Batejat, D. M., & Lagarde, D. P. (1999). Naps and modafinil as countermeasures for the effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance. Aviation Space and Environmental Medicine, 70(5), 493–498.

[Rorororo]

Vitamin B12 (and other B-vitamins) is mostly underestimated as a nootropic. However, there is very good evidence that it can significantly slow brain degeneration in elderly patiens with Alzheimer's and other brain diseases.

 

Source: Gröber, Uwe, Klaus Kisters, and Joachim Schmidt. "Neuroenhancement with Vitamin B12—Underestimated neurological significance." Nutrients 5.12 (2013): 5031-5045.

 

Note: The study does not research cognitive improvement in healthy people, but I think it can't hurt, as vitamin B is dangerous only in VERY large doses.

 

 

[Rorororo]

This paper looks interesting:

 

Kutt, Krzysztof, Artur Gunia, and Grzegorz J. Nalepa. "Cognitive enhancement: How to increase chance of survival in the jungle?." Cybernetics (CYBCONF), 2015 IEEE 2nd International Conference on. IEEE, 2015.

 

http://www.academia....l_in_the_jungle

 

Sadyl, behind a paywall. Does anyone have access?

[Rorororo]

Definition of a drug is any substance that, when injected into a rat, produces a journal article.

[gamesguru]

Emerging cognitive enhancing drugs.
Buccafusco JJ1.  2009.
BACKGROUND: 

Advances in health sciences during the last century have increased the average age in industrialized nations. Despite this progress, neurodegenerative diseases that affect higher order thinking and memory continue to increase in prevalence as they take a devastating toll on human productivity in the later years. There is an acute need for new drugs and therapeutic approaches for treating these severe diseases, and also for improving the quality of cognitive function associated with normal aging and in many other disorders and syndromes that present with cognitive dysfunction.
OBJECTIVE: 

The purpose of this review is to ascertain the pharmacological approaches being exploited to improve cognition and memory and to determine the most relevant and effective directions taken for new drug discovery. Limitations and difficulties encountered in this effort also are discussed.
METHODS: 

This review focuses primarily on compounds already undergoing clinical trials for improving cognition and memory with some discussion of rising new drug targets.
RESULTS/CONCLUSION: 

Compounds that act on allosteric sites on neurotransmitter receptors are expected to lead the field with new levels of specificity and reduced side effects. New multi-functional compounds can be designed that can both improve cognition and slow the process of disease.

[davidallen]

Someone actually studied the possibility, that nootropics can lead to creation of an evil supervillan.

 

PERSSON, Ingmar; SAVULESCU, Julian. The perils of cognitive enhancement and the urgent imperative to enhance the moral character of humanity. Journal of Applied Philosophy, 2008, 25.3: 162-177.

 

Would love to read it, but sadly, it is behind a paywall.