Live data from Hacker News

New Study Finds Performance-Enhancing Drugs for Chess

worldchess.com

41–50 of 141 posts

Re: New Study Finds Performance-Enhancing Drugs for Chess

#41
post #13

I've been taking 400mg of Magnesium Glycinate two times a day along with 200mg of Theanine (also twice a day) with my usual two cups of coffee. I feel fantastically focused without the jittery edge that accompanies caffeine alone.

That's interesting. My mother recently started raving about Magnesium Oil and forced me to try it while I was visiting. She had bought a spray.

I thought it was all garbage but I tried it and noticed I slept much deeper than normal and through the entire night, consistently. I have no idea if this is all placebo effect, but it's interesting hearing others have similar effects.

Re: New Study Finds Performance-Enhancing Drugs for Chess

#42
post #36

Anecdotally, Modafinil improved the functioning of the right hemisphere of my brain. I noticed this type of enhancement with Phenibut as well, my "emotional intelligence" was increased by one or two orders of magnitude. On the other hand, Adderall increased my raw intelligence by several orders of magnitude. I strongly believe that amphetamines should be decriminalized and unscheduled, as they are the only class of p…

"Limited"? psychosis!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stimulant_psychosis

Re: New Study Finds Performance-Enhancing Drugs for Chess

#43
post #13

I've been taking 400mg of Magnesium Glycinate two times a day along with 200mg of Theanine (also twice a day) with my usual two cups of coffee. I feel fantastically focused without the jittery edge that accompanies caffeine alone.

I was given some L Theanine by a friend of mine, because I complained about not being able to silent my thoughts when I sleep. Apparently, L Theanine is great at reducing this mental crosstalk. I tried some for a few nights, but I didn't notice an appreciable change. Did you notice the effects after taking it for a few weeks, or do you get them immediately?

Re: New Study Finds Performance-Enhancing Drugs for Chess

#44

The title is somewhat misleading - I assumed they discovered a new type of drug that was enhancing performance. Actually, it's just the first study to actually bear out the (not particularly shocking) conclusion that drugs that enhance cognitive performance help in a game that depends on cognitive performance.

I think you're not impressed because you already assumed these drugs enhance cognitive performance. That, I think, is what the study is really about: do these particular drugs actually enhance cognitive performance? But, in order to test that, they need to pick a cognitive task, and in this case, the cognitive task happens to be chess.

Re: New Study Finds Performance-Enhancing Drugs for Chess

#45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you worry about becoming dependent on that?

The only addictive thing there is the caffeine from coffee.

Addictive and dependent are too different things. I am dependent on my car, but it is not addictive.

Re: New Study Finds Performance-Enhancing Drugs for Chess

#46
post #43
post #13

I've been taking 400mg of Magnesium Glycinate two times a day along with 200mg of Theanine (also twice a day) with my usual two cups of coffee. I feel fantastically focused without the jittery edge that accompanies caffeine alone.

I was given some L Theanine by a friend of mine, because I complained about not being able to silent my thoughts when I sleep. Apparently, L Theanine is great at reducing this mental crosstalk. I tried some for a few nights, but I didn't notice an appreciable change. Did you notice the effects after taking it for a few weeks, or do you get them immediately?

>not being able to silent my thoughts when I sleep

What do you mean by that?

Re: New Study Finds Performance-Enhancing Drugs for Chess

#47
post #13

I've been taking 400mg of Magnesium Glycinate two times a day along with 200mg of Theanine (also twice a day) with my usual two cups of coffee. I feel fantastically focused without the jittery edge that accompanies caffeine alone.

A few years ago I discovered CogniTea[1]. It's a tea blend that puts 90mg of caffeine, 100mg of L-Theanine and some gingko and such in every tea bag. Best stimulant I've ever used.

So I guess I'm on 400mg+ of Theanine per day. Have been for 2 or 3 years. :D

I suggest giving it a shot. I got the entire office hooked.

My favorite part is that when I travel and don't drink it, there's no headache. Sure, feels like brain mush when unstimulated, but hey, no headache. :)

[1] www.cognitea.com

Re: New Study Finds Performance-Enhancing Drugs for Chess

#48
post #13

I've been taking 400mg of Magnesium Glycinate two times a day along with 200mg of Theanine (also twice a day) with my usual two cups of coffee. I feel fantastically focused without the jittery edge that accompanies caffeine alone.

How did you hear about these substances and what conviced you to swallow 4(!) pills a day with our national drug caffeine ?

Re: New Study Finds Performance-Enhancing Drugs for Chess

#49
post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was given some L Theanine by a friend of mine, because I complained about not being able to silent my thoughts when I sleep. Apparently, L Theanine is great at reducing this mental crosstalk. I tried some for a few nights, but I didn't notice an appreciable change. Did you notice the effects after taking it for a few weeks, or do you get them immediately?

>not being able to silent my thoughts when I sleep What do you mean by that?

Mind racing in bed, thinking about a million things at once. Keeps me up at night sometimes as well.

Re: New Study Finds Performance-Enhancing Drugs for Chess

#50
post #13

I've been taking 400mg of Magnesium Glycinate two times a day along with 200mg of Theanine (also twice a day) with my usual two cups of coffee. I feel fantastically focused without the jittery edge that accompanies caffeine alone.

I can't take Caffeine without L-Theanine. If I take caffeine alone I bite all of my nails and get a general sense of impending doom along with a shitty mood.
Post reply on HN