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Noninvasive theta-burst stimulation enhances skill learning

nature.com

21–30 of 34 posts

Re: Noninvasive theta-burst stimulation enhances skill learning

#21

This is really stupid and dangerous. There is a music to brain waves and this is disturbing the harmony. Can’t we all just be different and be ok with it?

Doesn't "being different and ok with it" include some people wanting to do something "really stupid and dangerous" and you being ok with it?

Re: Noninvasive theta-burst stimulation enhances skill learning

#22

On HN the use of psychedelic microdosing for problem solving/creativity is usually the only context that is being discussed. But there are others. For rapid motor skill improvement I suggest microdosing LSD or shrooms and then doing the resp. excercise/practice. Ideally with a teacher/master present, to correct/help. Also applying the techniques from the famous "The Inner Game of Tennis" book during the trip window h…

That sounds fantastic if safe over the long term. If you are learning faster, do the results stick? In your case, it seems that the reward is worth the risk. Are you aware of any studies into the long term effects of microdosing psychedelics?

Re: Noninvasive theta-burst stimulation enhances skill learning

#24

On HN the use of psychedelic microdosing for problem solving/creativity is usually the only context that is being discussed. But there are others. For rapid motor skill improvement I suggest microdosing LSD or shrooms and then doing the resp. excercise/practice. Ideally with a teacher/master present, to correct/help. Also applying the techniques from the famous "The Inner Game of Tennis" book during the trip window h…

I had some friends/peers go through a period of micro dosing. They had similar beliefs about increased learning based on similar theories of neuroplasticity, fueled by trendy podcasters and influencers.

As an outside observer, I got to a point where I could usually tell which days they were microdosing. The biggest tell was that their self confidence went up significantly. They would consider routine accomplishments to be great achievements. They would have an increased sense of wonder after even basic realizations. If anything, their actual problem solving abilities were diminished or at least slowed on those days.

All but one of them eventually discontinued it, realizing that it was doing more to distort their perceptions than actually improving themselves. One has unfortunately continued with increasing doses over the years to try to chase the early feelings. He’s reaching a point of delusions of grandeur and he’s accumulating a lot of weird pseudo-religious ideas and theories. It’s very concerning.

I have no doubt that micro dosing changes how people feel about their own performance after watching this play out over several years, but I’m far from convinced that it actually has a direct effect on improving learning in the ways the influencers are claiming. I could see how altering self-perceptions could improve confidence enough to make someone perform differently, but I have some serious doubts about the drug actually improving cognition or learning.

Re: Noninvasive theta-burst stimulation enhances skill learning

#25
post #22

On HN the use of psychedelic microdosing for problem solving/creativity is usually the only context that is being discussed. But there are others. For rapid motor skill improvement I suggest microdosing LSD or shrooms and then doing the resp. excercise/practice. Ideally with a teacher/master present, to correct/help. Also applying the techniques from the famous "The Inner Game of Tennis" book during the trip window h…

That sounds fantastic if safe over the long term. If you are learning faster, do the results stick? In your case, it seems that the reward is worth the risk. Are you aware of any studies into the long term effects of microdosing psychedelics?

The results do stick.

My first experience was random, when I tried a new, legal LSD variant[1], during the end of the pandemic, summer 2021.

I tried first ~40µg, while still finishing work (code).

Didn't feel anything so I took another 40 and then went dancing two hours later. At 80µg the LSD was just below psychoactive, so that dose was too high, in retrospect. I now use 40µ and that is perfect for me.

The only indicator I had, after the night, was external. Three followers came to me, out of the blue, and told me: "you were my best tanda tonight, thank you." (A tanda is a block of three-four songs danced together, before you change partners).

That struck me as odd/very surprising, at the level of dancing I was at then. A comment like this was something I would hear once-twice a year, if lucky. But three in one night?

After that the praise kept coming from other tango people I danced with for years before, i.e. they felt the change.

That's when I started experimenting with it and it has just become another tool to improve since then.

People who disregard this I tell to talk to dozens of dancers who know me for years.

They didn't know about what caused it. Yet they saw/see and felt/feel the change in my dancing and particularly musicality (which was, until then, my biggest struggle).

[1] LSD.shop

Re: Noninvasive theta-burst stimulation enhances skill learning

#26
post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That sounds fantastic if safe over the long term. If you are learning faster, do the results stick? In your case, it seems that the reward is worth the risk. Are you aware of any studies into the long term effects of microdosing psychedelics?

The results do stick. My first experience was random, when I tried a new, legal LSD variant[1], during the end of the pandemic, summer 2021. I tried first ~40µg, while still finishing work (code). Didn't feel anything so I took another 40 and then went dancing two hours later. At 80µg the LSD was just below psychoactive, so that dose was too high, in retrospect. I now use 40µ and that is perfect for me. The only indi…

From the point of view of harm prevention, you should probably be more specific about what substance you consumed here.

Re: Noninvasive theta-burst stimulation enhances skill learning

#27
post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The results do stick. My first experience was random, when I tried a new, legal LSD variant[1], during the end of the pandemic, summer 2021. I tried first ~40µg, while still finishing work (code). Didn't feel anything so I took another 40 and then went dancing two hours later. At 80µg the LSD was just below psychoactive, so that dose was too high, in retrospect. I now use 40µ and that is perfect for me. The only indi…

From the point of view of harm prevention, you should probably be more specific about what substance you consumed here.

1cP-LSD at the time. Currently 1V-LSD; still from the stash of I bought last year. Can't admittedly report on what LSD.shop are selling currently.

Both feel not noticably different from pure LSD I took years before.

Re: Noninvasive theta-burst stimulation enhances skill learning

#28
post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That sounds fantastic if safe over the long term. If you are learning faster, do the results stick? In your case, it seems that the reward is worth the risk. Are you aware of any studies into the long term effects of microdosing psychedelics?

The results do stick. My first experience was random, when I tried a new, legal LSD variant[1], during the end of the pandemic, summer 2021. I tried first ~40µg, while still finishing work (code). Didn't feel anything so I took another 40 and then went dancing two hours later. At 80µg the LSD was just below psychoactive, so that dose was too high, in retrospect. I now use 40µ and that is perfect for me. The only indi…

Do you think any of this could be from improved confidence? It would be fascinating if you could figure out how to study this in a double-blind way with a placebo.

Re: Noninvasive theta-burst stimulation enhances skill learning

#30

On HN the use of psychedelic microdosing for problem solving/creativity is usually the only context that is being discussed. But there are others. For rapid motor skill improvement I suggest microdosing LSD or shrooms and then doing the resp. excercise/practice. Ideally with a teacher/master present, to correct/help. Also applying the techniques from the famous "The Inner Game of Tennis" book during the trip window h…

I had some friends/peers go through a period of micro dosing. They had similar beliefs about increased learning based on similar theories of neuroplasticity, fueled by trendy podcasters and influencers. As an outside observer, I got to a point where I could usually tell which days they were microdosing. The biggest tell was that their self confidence went up significantly. They would consider routine accomplishments…

I do wonder how this may be different between things like physical or musical skills vs something more academic.
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