While this site is mainly devoted to explaining how you can use nootropics to enhance your cognition, effective use of smart drugs is really only half the picture. A perfect nootropic regimen will only do so much good when combined with an unhealthy lifestyle and a lack of mental stimulation.

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Studies have repeatedly shown that smoking is not only bad for the body, but also for the mind. But what of nicotine itself? There’s more and more evidence emerging that nicotine can actually have some potent cognitive enhancing properties.

Nicotine’s Nootropic Benefits

Studies released in the last few years show that Nicotine does indeed have nootropic properties. It’s most pronouced effect appears to be an improvement in learning and memory. ² One study in particular tested it’s effects on the memory of rats in a variety of different tests. The study found that rats dosed with nicotine performed significantly better at nearly every memory test performed. ³

The study concluded that there is strong evidence that nicotine is a cognitive enhancer in humans as well as animals. In vitro results suggested that nicotine also has antioxidant and neuroprotective properties. (Don’t use this as an excuse to start smoking, the other chemicals in tobacco smoke are more than harmful enough to make up for any benefit the nicotine itself may provide.)

But Nicotine is Highly Addictive!

It’s actually a common misconception that nicotine alone is addictive. Studies have shown that nicotine is actually only addictive when combined with a Monamine Oxidase Inhibior (MAOI). ¹. Cigarettes are highly addictive not just because they contain nicotine, but also because tobacco smoke has MAO-inhibitory properties.

This means that if you used a delivery system for nicotine that lacks MAO-inhibition such as gum or patches you can enjoy the nootropic benefits of nicotine without having to worry about becoming addictive. Of course you should ensure that you aren’t taking any MAO-inhibiting medication before doing this.

Giving it a Try

If you want to try and experience the nootropic benefits of nicotine for yourself, don’t take up smoking. Nicotine gum, patches, and electronic cigarettes are all good substitutes. (Though you may want to avoid electronic cigarettes until more research has been performed on their long term health effects — some of them use potentially carcinogenic chemicals as well.)

Resources:

1) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16177026
2) http://digitalcommons.conncoll.edu/psychhp/5/
3) http://www.unisa.it/uploads/5711/87.ramarao.pdf

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I came across an interesting article recently which describes the effects of LSD on creativity and analytical thinking. The article described a study in the late 60′s designed to study how the drug affected creativity. The study gathered a number of respected scientists and engineers who were told to bring highly technical problems, ones they’ve spent at least several months trying to solve unsuccessfully.

These professionals were then dosed with 100 micrograms of LSD, a fairly light dose, and set out to solve their technical problems to the best of their ability. Afterwords, their work was submitted to peer review boards, department chairs, corporate clients, and other professionals in order to analyze their results.

The Results

The results of the study were dramatic. A torrent of new innovations resulted from their acid-enhanced worktime including a new conceptual model for the photon, a mathematical theorem for NOR gate circuits, and a linear electron accelerator beam-steering device.

These results don’t look too surprising when you look at what some of our nation’s greatest innovators had to say about the drug. Francis Crick admitted he was under the influence of LSD when he first envisioned the double helix structure of DNA, Steve Jobs called his experience LSD one of the most important things in his life. Bill Wilson, the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, even recommended it as a treatment for alcoholism.

More Research is Needed

Now I am not promoting the use of LSD as a nootropic, frankly it’s current legal status has made performing proper research on it extremely difficult. Without knowing more about it I would hesitate to use such a powerful drug lightly. Taking low doses of LSD for nootropic effects is popular with some people though. All said, LSD at low doses certainly seem to provide some interesting nootropic benefits. It’s unfortunate that fear and ignorance have kept this chemical out of researcher’s hands for so long.

Fortunately research on psychadelics in general seems to be making a bit of a comeback. One recent study of Psylocybin (the active ingredient in so called “Magic Mushrooms”) has shown that one experience with the chemical can improve people’s outlook on life for months at a time. If research such as this can truly make a comeback, expect many more interesting findings about LSD and related chemicals.

This is a rumor I’ve heard floating around and is a topic many people are interested in so I decided to investigate its validity.

First, MDMA is an illegal drug. You will be arrested if you are caught with it. I am not encouraging its use in any way. Until your country’s government legalizes it, stay away from it.

That being said, there some evidence which does suggest Piracetam increases MDMA’s effect. Anecdotal evidence is common.

Compelling Evidence to Support Piracetam’s Enhancement of MDMA

One of the more compelling pieces of anecdotal evidence came from a post from Erowid Experiences.

The person providing the experience used to be a heavy MDMA user. In fact, he was unable to achieve the “magic” high those using MDMA seek after taking as many as 10 doses. After hearing Piracetam could help, he decided to combine them.

He had been taking 2,400mg of Piracetam every day for three days before the experience. After trying just 1 pills of MDMA he said the experience was on par with the first time ever doing MDMA. He even reported slight visual distortions.

Tons of Anecdotal Evidence Supports This Claim

A different piece of anecdotal evidence, also from Erowid Experiences, had something different to say. The user this time has also used MDMA for quite some time, though she had cut down to once a month. She also said the “magical” feeling he used to get was virtually gone.

She said the Piracetam did enhance her trip, but it still wasn’t as magical as her first time. All her friends, on the other hand, stated their MDMA experience was just as good as the very first time they did it. She also stated the depression and lethargy that sometimes accompanies MDMA trips was almost completely absent.

More evidence posted on the forum partyvibe.com further supports these claims. The poster of the experience took 2,400mg of Piracetam daily for 2 weeks before taking 200mg of MDMA. He experienced genuine euphoria, and blurred vision, comparable to the first time he tried it.

Why Does Piracetam Potentiate the Effects of MDMA?

To be honest, I don’t know. And I haven’t been able to find anything to explain why. Some people theorize, Piracetam helps greater amounts of the MDMA cross the blood brain barrier. Others think Piracetam may affect one of the enzymes responsible for breaking down MDMA.

Regardless of how Piracetam accomplishes the feat, all the anecdotal evidence I have come across supports the point. Furthermore, Piracetam is completely non-toxic, very safe, and causes very few side effects.

Boosting creativity is a tricky feat. To understand how to boost creativity we must first know a little bit about how it works.

For a long time, creativity was thought to be controlled by the right hemisphere of our brain. In the 1970′s this view was constructed by studying split-brain patients (patients which lacked the corpus callosum). This means their right and left brain hemisphere couldn’t communicate with each other. However, we now know this model is overly simplistic and outdated but it does hold some weight.

In fact, research on Marijuana, and how it affects our creativity may shed some light on how one can be more creative. One study looked at “semantic priming”, which gives a subject one word (such as dog), then requires them to think up closely related words (such as wolf or pet).

Researchers discovered that those under the effects of Marijuana were much better as this task. They could think of greater amounts of related words much more quickly. Scientists believe there are a couple reasons Marijuana boosts creativity.

• Marijuana enhances cerebral blood flow in the right hemisphere of our brain.
• Marijuana stimulates alpha-wave production in the brain

By these two mechanisms of action, Marijuana can extend one range of free-associative capabilities allowing one to make connections between two things which are very loose at best. In other words, it extends the range of ideas we would normally relate to one another.

Which Nootropics Can Boost Creativity?

Two nootropics which may help boost creativity are:

1. Piracetam. Studies have revealed that Piracetam not only enhances blood flow to the brain, but also increases communication between the left and right brain hemisphere. This means more blood reaches your brain’s right hemisphere, and it can communicate better with the left hemisphere. Other ‘racetams that have this effect could also boost creativity.

2. Theanine. Research shows Theanine promotes alpha-wave production leading to enhanced coordination and communication in the brain.

Taking Theanine and Piracetam together may enhance creativity more than taking either one separate. Furthermore, if you have a medical marijuana prescription and can legally consume it, using Marijuana along with these two nootropics can provide a maximum increase to your creativity.

More Insight into Creativity

Interestingly, a study conducted on the effect of psilocybin (the active ingredient found in magic mushrooms) found that a single dose caused personality changes which lasted a year or more. These changes included increased imagination, abstract thinking, and creativity. You can read more about this research below.

Research

1. Does Cannabis Boost Creativity?
2. Magic Mushrooms May Improve Personality Long Term

The “Racetam” nootropics being considered in this post are Piracetam, Aniracetam, Oxiracetam, Pramiracetam, and Noopept.

I’d like to start by saying there is no single “best” racetam nootropic. Everyone’s brain is different, and everyone has different needs. Because of this, the racetam nootropic which may be best for someone might not be best for someone else. Because of this, I will discuss which racetam nootropic is best depending on what is most important to you specifically. You should read through each category and decide which                                              one fits best for you.

For a more in-depth discussion on the “Racetam” family of nootropics, please consult the Building Brain Power program. Building Brain Power is the first complete workout regimen designed specifically for your brain. The nootropics section of Building Brain Power discusses exactly how each “Racetam” nootropic differs, and provides you with complicated strategies on how to best utilize each one.

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Which “Racetam” Is the Strongest?

When I say “strongest”, I mean which racetam nootropic produces the most noticeable effect. Many people take nootropic specifically for the boost to clarity and focus a noticeable feeling provides.
Based on anecdotal evidence and personal experience, Piracetam is the weakest of the 5 racetam nootropics. Many people never report a noticeable feeling, while other people have to take it for weeks before they feel something.

Noopept and Pramiracetam, on the other hand, are much more likely to produce noticeable effects the first time you use them. Increased mental clarity is the best way to describe the feeling. You simply feel “clear” and it is much easier to think. Think of it as the opposite of being hungover. When you are hungover you feel cloudy and deep thought is challenging. When you are on Noopept or Pramiracetam, you feel clear and deep thought is easy.

Aniracetam and Oxiracetam are in the middle. Some people report these nootropics work better for them than Pramiracetam and Noopept. However, more people respond better to Noopept and Pramiracetam, myself included.

If you are looking for a noticeable feeling, I recommend starting with either Noopept or Pramiracetam. If neither of those work then try our Oxiracetam and Aniracetam. Using two racetam nootropics together can also create a synergistic effect.

Which “Racetam” Is the Safest?

All the racetam nootropics are very safe and have a miniscule toxicity. However, for those looking for maximum safety and a minimal chance of side effects, Piracetam is your best choice.

Piracetam is the very first of the racetam nootropics. Because of this it has been studied more extensively than any other one. People have been using Piracetam for close to 30 years without any negative effects caused by long term use. Side effects are very rare.

Some of the other racetam nootropics like Noopept are relatively new. Even though studies reveal them to be completely safe, it is much harder to tell if taking them each day for years is safe. No studies have been done and they haven’t been in circulation for as long.

Furthermore, because Piracetam has the largest recommended dosage compared to the others, it is much harder to measure out a dose which is too large. For example, Piracetam’s recommended dose is between 800 – 2,400mg taken three times per day. Noopept’s on the other hand, is 10-30mg taken three times per day.

For those who measure out their own doses, it is easy to take too much Noopept or Pramiracetam causing negative side effects. This is much harder to do with Piracetam.

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Ampakines are an exciting new class of drugs which have been shown to have many nootropic benefits including enhancing attention span, learning, memory, and altertness. One study found that they even left lasting benefits to learning and memory after they left the body. While strong ampakines can produce a potent stimulating effect, their unqiue mechanism of action causes them to lack many of the side effects of traditional stimulants such as insomnia.

They are currently being studied as a possible treatment for many different mental disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, depression, and ADHD.

How Do Ampakines Work?

Ampakines work by acting as a positive allosteric modulator on the AMPA receptors. These receptors regulate much of the synaptic transmission in the central nervous system. Unlike traditional stimulants such as adderall, ampakines do not force these receptors to fire faster, but merely allow them to when necessary. This results in a drug which presents stimulant effects without many of the negative side effects associated with traditional stimulants.

What Are Some Examples of Ampakines?

Many of the common ‘racetams such as piracetam and aniracetam are ampakines, however their modulation of the AMPA receptors is very weak and is not one of their primary mechanisms of action. Therefore their effects should not be seen as indicative of what a more powerful Ampakine would provide. Though most popular ‘racetams are currently only weak Ampakines, others that have a much more potent effect on AMPA receptors such as Nooglutil are currently in testing. These ‘racetams could prove far more effective nootropics than current ones.

Many potent non-’racetam Ampakines are also currently being developed. Cortex Pharmaceuticals holds patents covering the use of ampakines to treat many different conditions, and their development programs have yielded a variety of different ampakines such as Ampalex and Farampator.

Because Noopept is such a powerful nootropic, it is very important you get your dose correct. The most commonly recommended dose for Noopept ranges from 10-30mg. Piracetam’s recommended dose, on the other hand, ranges from 800mg – 2,400mg. As you can see, Noopept’s doses are microscopic.

For information on how to properly dose Noopept alongside mental exercise in order to increase IQ, memory, and focus, please consult the Building Brain Power program. Building Brain Power is the first workout regimen designed specifically for your brain.

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I highly recommend staying within the 10-30mg range. Where you fall into the range will depend upon how much you weigh. If you are under 140lbs, I suggest 10mg, between 140lbs – 200lbs 20mg, – and for those over 200lbs – 30mg.

However, despite the extremely low recommended doses for Noopept, it is extremely safe and non-toxic. One study administered doses of 100mg/kg to male and female rabbits for over 6 months. This equates to a 7,258mg dose for someone weighing 160lbs.

The study claimed no irreversible pathologic changes in the organs and systems studied took place, there was no allergenic, immunotoxic, or mutagen activity, and no effects on generative function or postnantal progeny development took place.

So can you safely take more than the recommended Noopept dosage? Probably. However, reports on the effects from higher doses tend to differ.

More isn’t Always Better

I want to point out that many drugs have a U-Shaped return curve. In other words, too small of a dose won’t help much, but too large of a dose won’t help much either. There is a dosing “sweet spot” which can maximize your benefits.

For example, research shows that a 4.8G dose of Piracetam is more effective than both a 2.9G dose and a 9.6G dose. More is not necessarily better, there is a U-shaped dose-dependent return.

Are there any studies like this on Noopept? Not that have been able to locate. But from my own experiences, and anecdotal evidence from forums, I can provide you with some advice. Keep in mind everyone’s brain is different, and the perfect dose is likely not the same for everyone.

For myself, I find the perfect dose if right around 20mg and I weight 140lbs. I’ve tried doses which range from 10mg to 60mg. At 10mg and 30mg I feel a noticeable effect, but the effect isn’t as powerful at 20mg doses. When I take doses ranging from 40-60mg, not only do I feel not positive effects but I become very drowsy. I remember taking a nap for the first time in months after I tried a 60mg dose.

However, someone who described their experience with high Noopept doses on longecity forums had positive results. He had been taking doses of 20-30mg two or three times daily for a month before trying a 100mg dose. He stated he felt nothing the first time he took the 100mg dose, but felt serene and clear the following day.

A couple days later he tried three 100mg doses in a single day. The first two doses went great, but the third one produced a very flat, emotionless feeling. Since then he has been taking 100mg of Noopept twice a day and feels great. Turns out the optimum Noopept dose for him is 100mg twice per day, for me, the optimum dose is 20mg, twice per day.

My suggestion is to start within the recommended range of 10-30mg. If you are satisfied with the benefits you receive from that dose I see no reason to go higher. If you aren’t satisfied, higher doses appear to be safe, but be careful. Keep in mind there is little known about large Noopept dosing on humans, only animals.

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I recently stumbled upon a study comparing the effectiveness and safety of piracetam and noopept. Though the focus of the study was on each nootropic’s ability to treat cognitive disorders as opposed to cognitive enhancement in healthy people, it still provides an interesting look at which of the two is more useful.

The drugs faced off in two different groups of participants. One group was made up of patients with CNS diseases of vascular origin, while the other was made up of patients suffering from post-traumatic CNS disorders. Noopept was administered in three daily doses of 20 mg, while piracetam was administered in three daily doses of 1200 mg.

Noopept Proved to be Safer and More Effective than Piracetam

The study found that while both nootropics improved the condition of patients in the study, Noopept was more effective. Within the first week of treatment patients suffering from vascular CNS diseases began to show signs of improvement. These improvements were mild at first, but increased more and more with each week of treatment. Virtually all patients suffering from vascular CNS diseases benefited from treatment with Noopept. It was almost as effective at treating trauma induced CNS diseases as well.

While the study found that piracetam also helped, it showed Noopept as a clear winner. The study found a 95% probibility that patients suffering from CNS diseases of a vascular origin would have better results from treatment with noopept instead of piracetam. Similar results were noted for CNS diseases caused by trauma.

The study found that Noopept is also much less likely to produce adverse effects. 1.8 times less likely to be exact. While we can’t extrapolate the results of this study to say definitively that noopept is a better cognitive enhancer in healthy people, this plus mountains of anecdotal evidence seem to point that way.

Click here to read the abstract.

Certain nootropics such as Noopept have been proven to raise levels of the Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein in humans. As we learn more about the phyiscal and chemical structure of the brain, the benefits of increased BDNF levels are becoming clearer and clearer.

What Is BDNF?

BDNF is an example of a neurotrophin. Neurotrophins are a group of
proteins which are essential for the survival, development, and proper
functioning of neurons. When released into the brain, they prevent
associated brain cells from initiating programmed cell death, allowing
these cells to survive for longer periods of time then they normally
would.

There are many different types of neurotrophins, each with different
properties and effects. BDNF acts on specific brain cells in the
central and peripheral nervous system. It helps not only to keep these
cells alive, but also catalyses the growth of new neurons and
connections between neurons. While BDNF can be found in a wide range
of different tissues, in the brain it is concentrated in the basal
forebrain, cortex, and hippocampus. These regions of the brain are
vital for memory, learning, and problem solving. It isn’t surprising
then that there is a strong link between BDNF levels and one’s memory
and cognitive abilities.

Why Raise Your BDNF?

The consequences for having low levels of BDNF have been well
established. In studies on mice, those born without the ability to
make BDNF were seen to suffer from many developmental defects in the
nervous system and brain, and most died soon after birth. ¹
These studies suggest that BDNF is essential for normal cognitive
development, but what about healthy adults? Once most of the brain has
finished developing are there any benefits to raising BDNF levels? The
research on this points to the answer as a resounding yes.

One study found that exposure to stress can decrease levels of BDNF in
rats, and that if the stress is persistant enough that this can
actually lead to an atrophy of the hippocampus. Note that this is also
a symptom in humans suffering from chronic depression. ²
Lower levels of BDNF have also been seen in the brains of people
suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Some studies suggest that BDNF can
protect against amyloid beta toxicity. This implies that low BDNF
levels can increase one’s risk of developing Alzeimer’s disease.

Though most brain cells are formed prenatally and during early
childhood, many parts of the adult brain can grow new neurons
throughout life. This process is known as neurogenesis. It seems that
BDNF’s positive influence on this process is why it is crucial to
cognitive health throughout life, not just during the brain’s
development.

BDNF has also been shown to have a powerful affect on synaptic
plasticity, which is your brain’s ability to create and strengthen
connections between neurons. This is it’s biggest benefit for healthy
people and is why taking nootropics which increase BDNF expression
provide such powerful boosts to memory and learning.

Raising Your BDNF Levels

Luckily it can be surprisingly easy to increase the amount of BDNF in
your brain. Aerobic exercise has been shown to profoundly increase
levels of BDNF and other neurotrophins. It really can’t be stated
enough how beneficial exercise is to your mental performance. If you
aren’t exercising at least three times a week already, this is yet
another reason to.

The nootropic Noopept has also been shown to have a powerful BDNF boosting effect. If you really want to notice a complete 180 in your cognitive performance and mental clarity, start taking Noopept and exercising as often as you can.

Sources

1) Studies on the physiological role of brain-derived neurotrophic
factor and neurotrophin-3 in knockout mice. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8645564
2) Hippocampal neurogenesis: opposing effects of stress and
antidepressant treatment.