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Caffeine boosts problem-solving ability but not creativity, study indicates

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Re: Caffeine boosts problem-solving ability but not creativity, study indicates

#121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Presumably middle east or north/eastern africa. Then again I'm sure there are plenty of SV hipster types who might be big on it. "forget microdosing, khat is the new path to rockstar programming flow states"

Is anyone afraid that microdosing might become the next must, if you want to be competitive in the programming fields of industry?

No, because any benefits it might have are not big enough to be dealbreakers.

Programming, unlike sport, isn't about one winner taking all. At least not on the level of individual programming skill.

Re: Caffeine boosts problem-solving ability but not creativity, study indicates

#122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Presumably middle east or north/eastern africa. Then again I'm sure there are plenty of SV hipster types who might be big on it. "forget microdosing, khat is the new path to rockstar programming flow states"

Is anyone afraid that microdosing might become the next must, if you want to be competitive in the programming fields of industry?

No, I think it's a bit ridiculous to assume that everyone would be microdosing or that it provides such a massive competitive edge such that the drawbacks of microdosing are outweighed.

Re: Caffeine boosts problem-solving ability but not creativity, study indicates

#124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some writer and artists would use the following: Hold a key in one of your hands and hang your hand down by your side while you let yourself fall asleep while sitting in a chair (honestly this first part sounds the most difficult). When you fall asleep—or rather the trance-like borderlands between awake and sleep— you should naturally drop the key (or whatever metallic, noise-making object) which should spring you ba…

Didn't Benjamin Franklin sleep at his desk with a stick propped under his elbow, so when the stick fell out he would invent stuff? I remember hearing that somewhere but now I can't find it

Maybe Franklin did this with the key and it gave him the lightning rod idea

Re: Caffeine boosts problem-solving ability but not creativity, study indicates

#125
post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Another anecdote, but when prepping for any sort of competition I used to be a hard-core caffeine consumer (measurable in grams, instead of mg) and it sometimes led to some weird effects. After a day or two of that level of caffeine intake, I go into an almost trance of productivity and performance. It feels like I'm watching myself do what I need to do, not that I have to 'do it' myself. It's a very strange sensatio…

How do you not end up spending all your time on the toilet when consuming that much caffeine?

If I drink coffee I definitely notice a need to clear the bowels more often (probably twice a day). Energy drinks and caffeine tablets don't have that effect on me, so once a day works fine.

The only negative thing is that I often work until right before I need to sleep, so if I'm drinking something mindlessly while working I end up waking up in the night once.

Re: Caffeine boosts problem-solving ability but not creativity, study indicates

#126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is anyone afraid that microdosing might become the next must, if you want to be competitive in the programming fields of industry?

No, I think it's a bit ridiculous to assume that everyone would be microdosing or that it provides such a massive competitive edge such that the drawbacks of microdosing are outweighed.

What are the drawbacks? Nobody seems to talk about drawbacks.

Re: Caffeine boosts problem-solving ability but not creativity, study indicates

#127

Ha, if true that would confirm Balzac's claim: > Coffee is a great power in my life; I have observed its effects on an epic scale. Coffee roasts your insides. Many people claim coffee inspires them, but, as everybody knows, coffee only makes boring people even more boring. From "The Pleasures and Pains of Coffee, 1830, http://blissbat.net/balzac.html

“The 200mg enhanced problem solving significantly, but had no effect on creative thinking,” said Zabelina. “It also didn’t make it worse, so keep drinking your coffee; it won’t interfere with these abilities.”

So not really I guess

Re: Caffeine boosts problem-solving ability but not creativity, study indicates

#128
post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think there's a kind of 'loading' period where your body absorbs caffeine and normalizes into a caffeinated state. I don't know if the sleep cycle has much to do with it though. In my case, I sleep much better after I have caffeine. I've been sleeping poorly for several months now because of my decision to cut it out. I might be abnormal (people I live and work with certainly think so!), but I basically never feel…

No kidding huh, sleep better after grams of caffeine? Yea, i guess my experience wouldn't apply to you.

Definitely not a healthy habit, but I used to take an energy drink to bed at night because without the caffeine it would take forever to fall asleep. I'd believed it was an addiction, except now I have been 'clean' of caffeine for so long (without any urges to consume it) and still suffer the same difficulty of falling asleep.

Re: Caffeine boosts problem-solving ability but not creativity, study indicates

#129
post #8
post #5

What boosts creativity? I sometimes used alcohol for song writing purposes. Are there healthier methods?

Poverty. My most recent creative streak was when I had to survive a month on 250CHF in Zürich.

Zurich person here. Tell me about it.

Re: Caffeine boosts problem-solving ability but not creativity, study indicates

#130

Thank you for linking to the paper. The study measures the effects of regular caffeine users: > Participants were invited to participate if they were between 18-35 years of age, consumed between 1-2 cups of caffeinated beverages per day at least 5 days a week, did not smoke, were native English speakers, and took no psychiatric medications or painkillers on a regular basis. > [...] > Participants were asked to abstai…

Yep, I almost never drink coffee more than 3 days in a row because it loses its affect. Luckily, intolerance comes back after only a day or two off.

I'll risk being downvoted for nitpicking in an attempt to be helpful about "affect" vs "effect":

Did it affect you? Yes, it had an effect.

The psych study showed the meds were effective in improving patents' affect (mood).

I want to effect (bring about) change by doing X.

HTH!

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