This week I am launching a “series” which explains the idea of “Using chemicals (aka.  food and drugs) to enhance brain performance”.

The first post will introduce the concept of using chemicals to enhance cognitive performance, the second post will explore the various chemicals which can improve brain function and the final post in the series will point out some of the pit falls and strategies to ensure what you buy is based on science not marketing hype. 

So lets kick off with a brief look at the idea of using “drugs” to improve your brain performance.

Drugs can do more than just improve physical performance

Currently when you hear  enhancing performance the  focus is on improving motor functions / physical performance either on the sports field or in the bedroom.

Drugs that come to mind = steroids (anabolic),  EPO (erythropoitin) and Viagra®.

Business is looking for ways to improve brain performance

Athletes have experimented  to improve their physical performance for years,  combining drugs and nutrients to shave off a second or two from their time and secure the gold medal.

Now  corporate executives, salesmen and students are  looking for tools to get them and keep them, at the top,  in an increasingly competitive world. 

Dawning of the neurorevolution

The advances in brain science, imaging technologies, IT, biotechnology and psychology  are combining to bring new tools to fix broken brains, birthing the era of neurotechnology.

Brains are emerging as big business, by 2030 brain disease is expected to be the largest contributor to ill health. But the field of neurotechnology is starting to take us beyond just using medicine to fix broken brains.

Neurotechnology is bringing technology that enhances brain functioning in the  healthy

•  improving our ability to think
•  improving our ability to remember
• helping us to manage our emotions / reason
• enhancing our experiences bringing ectasy and removing agony

Cognitive enhancement through “drugs”

It is not a new concept.  You’ve probably been using a cognitive enhancer most of your life……….

Of the big three drugs caffeine, nicotine and alcohol, the first two are smart drugs (nootropics) and the last is a very powerful mood altering substance.

The term, nootropics is derived from Greek – “noos” = mind  and “tropos” = changed, toward, turn and it is used to describe all chemicals that help us to remember more,  focus and think faster.

This is the first part of a 3 part series introducing Nootropics – “drugs” used to enhance cognitive performance. 

Part 1 – How to win a medal for brain performance

Part 2 – What can I take to  boost brain performance ?

Part 3 – All cognitive enhancers are not created equal

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Further reading

Chocolate milk is the best sports drink on the market	Jet lag causes long term lag in cognitive performance	How to determine if your man is an alpha male

The 7 Big Spoons™…. are master switches that turn health on.

Balance Eicosanoids	Rein in insulin	Dial down stress	Sleep !	Increase Vit D	Culivate microflora	Think champion

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Did you learn something new or do you have a different perspective ? I’d love to hear from you so post me a comment below…..