Podcasts about lead neuroscientist

XR Today's Rory Greener hosts Bebiana Moura, Ph.D. Head of Partnerships at Virtuleap and Nicolas A. Morgenstern, Lead Neuroscientist at Virtuleap to discuss cognitive training in healthcare. 

Today Dr. Andrew Hill from Peak Brain LA joined us to talk about all aspects of brain health. He deals with all manner of neurological dysfunctions in some very unique ways. Here are some of the brain issues he deals with, focus, attention, creativity, traumatic stress, mood, sleep, migraines, hyperactivity, rumination, impulsivity, perseveration, seizures, alcohol recovery, test preparation, concussions, and traumatic brain injuries. Here are some of the unique tools and protocols he uses to reverse some of these issues Quantitative EEG "brain mapping" assessments, neurofeedback training, heart rate variability biofeedback, and mindfulness meditation. In today's talk with Dr. Andrew Hill we discussed addiction and how to deal with addiction. Is it possible to completely reverse somebody's addictive behaviors? Dr. Hill says yes. We also discussed the impact of sports and concussions. Did you know there have been studies where high school football players are already showing signs of traumatic brain injuries? It's pretty scary. We also discussed the role of games, websites like Luminocity and playing games like chess and bingo can help the brain. Dr. Hill says that these games don't necessarily help which was quite interesting. If you are having any kind of brain issues, Peak Brain LA is the place to visit. Thanks for listening. On Last Thing! As always your support via your donations and bookmarking our Amazon link to use each time you purchase is how we keep our show going. Thank you for bookmarking our Amazon link even if you're not buying anything right now! :) Thank you all! Justin, Kate and Maggie Sponsor For This Episode: Visit Our Store Support Us Via Amazon.com Private Member Website (members only) Featured Products For This Episode: We are now commercial free but only if you click here to support us to keep making commercial free shows! :) Qigong Program Earthing Grounded Products Berkey Water Filters Chemical Free Organic Skincare! Activation Products - Ocean's Alive & Magnesium Find Extreme Health Radio On: [include file=showpage-itunes-soundcloud-stitcher.html] Please Subscribe: Subscribe To Our Radio Show For Updates! Other Shows: [include file=show-links.html] Listen to other shows with this guest. Show Date: Friday 11/18/2016 Show Guest: Dr. Andrew Hill Guest Info: Dr. Hill is one of the top peak performance coaches in the country. He holds a Ph.D. in Cognitive Neuroscience from UCLA's Department of Psychology and continues to do research on attention and cognition. Research methodology includes EEG, QEEG, and ERP. He has been practicing neurofeedback since 2003. In addition to founding Peak Brain Institute, Dr. Hill is host of the Head First Podcast with Dr. Hill, Lead Neuroscientist at truBrain, and lectures at UCLA, teaching courses in psychology, neuroscience, and gerontology. Guest Website(s): http://peakbraininstitute.com/ Guest Product(s): Please Support Us If You Are Able: (Opens in a new window - Every bit helps us to keep delivering even better shows that help you heal & thrive!) [spp-transcript]

Dr. Andrew Hill is a neuroscientist, entrepreneur, and biohacker. He's the Founder of Peak Brain Institute, a brain fitness center, and Lead Neuroscientist at TruBrain, a nootropics company. Dr. Hill holds a Ph.D. in Cognitive Neuroscience from UCLA and is best known for his mission to bring the brain-hacking technology of neurofeedback into mainstream practice. His community-oriented company Peak Brain Institute teaches brain-training from a fitness perspective and uses EEG neurofeedback and QEEG brain mapping designed to help people enhance cognitive performance. Topics in this episode include neurofeedback, a NASA study on cat brains, how brainwaves work, debunking the stoned ape hypothesis, the "god spot" in the brain, aging well, altered states of consciousness, brain gyms, the future of neuroscience technology, and why Elon musk may be wasting his time trying to get to Mars. 

There are exercises that make your body strong, and there are exercises that help your brain work better. In this episode, Bottom Line President Sarah Hiner is joined by Dr. Andrew Hill, founding director and lead neurotherapist at Peak Brain Institute, to talk about neurofeedback, which he describes as “exercise and therapy for the brain.” Neurofeedback has been proven to help with mood regulation, improved sleep, increased energy, stress relief and even migraines and seizures. No drugs involved. No dangerous side effects. According to Dr. Hill, the power of neurofeedback and how it retrains the brain eliminates the need for medication that theoretically “fixes” the brain. Neurofeedback has helped thousands learn to be in control of their thoughts, moods and overall effectiveness. Listen in to see how it can benefit you. To learn more, visit http://peakbraininstitute.com. Be sure to check out The Bottom Line Advocator podcast on Apple Podcasts!

Guest Introduction: Dr. Andrew Hill is one of the top peak performance coaches in the country. He holds a PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience from UCLA's department of Psychology, and continues to do research on attention and cognitive performance. Dr. Hill is the founder of Peak Brain Institute, and host of the Head First Podcast with Dr. Hill. He is also the Lead Neuroscientist at truBrain, and lectures at UCLA, teaching courses in psychology, neuroscience, and gerontology. Promotion: Listeners that mention this show will receive 10% off services at Peak Brain Institute with code CHARISMA (excludes equipment purchases). Interview Summary: In this interview, Andrew starts by discussing his background and the work he does in neuroscience and peak performance. He then describes the process of neurofeedback, and gives examples of brain problems that it can be used to treat. Andrew also explains how the brain evaluates our environment, attention, and behavior. He goes into detail on how PTSD affects the brain, mind, and body, as well as how it can be measured and treated. Next, Andrew explains how brain neurons fire and communicate with each other. He describes the different brain wave frequencies (delta, alpha, and beta) and reveals what activities cause our brain waves to increase and decrease. He then discusses how brain waves are measured, and how positive reinforcement works in neurofeedback. Andrew reveals how many neurofeedback sessions it takes before people start seeing significant changes. He also talks about how neurofeedback helps the brain become unstuck and more flexible over time. Andrew then discusses how he would work with people who are in depression. He talks about some of the subtle side effects of neurofeedback, and why it's not a one size fits all approach. We ask Andrew how people can nurture brain health by paying attention to their bodies. He discusses the benefits of mindfulness and meditation, and offers advice on developing a mindfulness practice. He also recommends loading up our working memory and directing attention on certain types of tasks to combat anxiety and stress. Chris talks about having better focus after cutting out excessive consumption of news and social media. Andrew then shares his insights on managing stress and being selective about the information we engage with. FInally, he explains the process of neuroplasticity and how the brain changes. Andrew discusses how nootropics and biohacking improve brain health. He also recommends seeing a functional medicine doctor to check for health issues that impact cognitive function. He leaves us with more information about Peak Brain's services. Find out more about Dr. Hill: http://peakbraininstitute.com https://www.trubrain.com The Craft of Charisma Podcast is also available at: bit.ly/Soundcloud-CofC-Podcast bit.ly/Stitcher-CofC-Podcast bit.ly/iTunes-CofC-Podcast bit.ly/Spotify-CofC-Podcast bit.ly/GooglePlayMusic-CofC-Podcast bit.ly/iHeartRadio-CofC-Podcast

Neurofeedback http://learntruehealth.com/neurofeedback/ Neurofeedback: Unlocking The Brain The brain is such a powerful tool yet there are secrets to its power that we have yet to unlock. Hence, my guest, Dr. Andrew Hill is here to teach us how to make our brain function optimally. He will also explain what neurofeedback is all about. How It All Began Dr. Andrew Hill has been involved in clinical work for more than two decades. In college, he worked in a residential facility for developmentally disabled adults. Because these people were primarily non-verbal, Dr. Andrew Hill had to learn different techniques on how to understand them. “The verbal challenge in these individuals was so profound. I had to communicate with people in a very different way,” recalls Dr. Andrew Hill. Incidentally, the state of California and Massachusetts tend to lead the way in progressive health care reform in the United States. This piqued Dr. Andrew Hill’s interest to work with different populations. Dr. Andrew Hill was working in in-patient psychology when he first heard about neurofeedback. He eventually went on to graduate school to learn more about neurofeedback. What is Neurofeedback? According to Dr. Andrew Hill, neurofeedback is a form of Biofeedback in the brain. It was invented about 50 years ago. Neurofeedback was developed through the work of Dr. Joe Kamiya at the University of Chicago in the 1950s. It was eventually followed by Dr. Barry Sterman’s work at UCLA in the 1960s. Primarily, neurofeedback trains the brain to efficiently function. It is also known as EEG Biofeedback based on the EEG or electroencephalogram. The EEG is a test to monitor the electrical activity of the brain. Neurofeedback Through the Years During the 70s, neurofeedback was seen as a formed of spiritual development. It became known as a meditation or spiritual tool. There were conflicts in religious beliefs and limited medical findings at the time. Hence, people were skeptical about neurofeedback. However, because of constant research through the years that followed, neurofeedback was eventually used to treat patients with ADHD, psychological, and central nervous system disorders. It can also be used for treating stress and other emotional conditions. Dr. Andrew Hill, in fact, worked at the Neurodevelopment Center in Providence Island years ago, before opening his practice. The center specialized in addressing autistic spectrum disorders. “I witnessed autism symptoms getting reduced. Traits like obsessions, anxiety, over-arousal of things, eye contact, sense of humor and language significantly improved,” Dr. Andrew Hill said. He also said that the limits on real neurofeedback research are therapy. This is because you can’t patent it. Furthermore, it’s hard to get funding for large studies. According to Dr. Andrew Hill, the reason studies need to be large is because each person needs 30 to 50 sessions each. In addition to that, each treatment is tailor-made to the client. Techniques of Neurofeedback Mental Health professionals perform neurofeedback by placing a lot of wires called electrodes to the scalp. This allows them the ability to monitor brainwave activity through a special computer software. Though the software has some limitations, it aids a person into changing brain activity to a recommended level. Consequently, the brain is being molded into operating on a more regulated performance. Peak Brain Institute Dr. Andrew Hill’s Peak Brain Institute offers QEEG brain mapping, wherein every treatment is tailor-made for the client. The length of the program varies, and a qualified Peak Brain neuroscience team ensures follow-up sessions after your program is done. Clients are likewise taught how to monitor their brain activity on their own. But there are a lot of EEG headsets that are unreliable. Hence, Dr. Andrew Hill said it is best to get some assistance with a qualified neuroscience team. “I don’t think the most elaborate neurofeedback approaches are better. It can be misleading and they don’t do the work,” said Dr. Andrew Hill. “Our offices helps patients for first three months. And then we adjust protocols.” Role of Diet and Nutrition Dr. Andrew Hill says people with conditions like ADHD improve within 4 to 5 months of training. However, aside from the treatment, diet, and nutrition plays a significant role in making sure our brain is healthy. “The right diet significantly improves your brain’s health. Consequently, one should minimize sugar and maximize healthy fats,” advises Dr. Andrew Hill. The Best Intervention Many ask if neurofeedback is a cure. It is not. However, there have been numerous success stories attesting to the fact that neurofeedback significantly improved their health condition. In this regard, Dr. Andrew Hill likewise highly recommends people to learn the power of meditation. According to him, meditation is the process of anchoring or learning to stabilize your condition effortlessly. Dr. Andrew Hill believes that people can get good at meditation over time. Ideally, meditating at least 20 minutes for 10 to 15 days in a row can produce significant results. “Adhere to the process of evaluating what’s going on. Be curious, not judgemental,” said Dr. Andrew Hill. “Especially in meditation, you become flexible. Being healthy is not something you do in the gym. It’s what you do in your life.” Dr. Andre Hill is one of the top peak performance coaches in the country. He holds a Ph.D. in Cognitive Neuroscience from UCLA’s Department of Psychology and continues to do research on attention and cognition. Research methodology includes EEG, QEEG, and ERP. He has been practicing neurofeedback since 2003. In addition to founding Peak Brain Institute, Dr. Andrew Hill is host of the Head First Podcast with Dr. Hill. He is also the Lead Neuroscientist at truBrain, and lectures at UCLA, teaching courses in psychology, neuroscience, and gerontology. 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Dr. Andrew Hill is one of the top peak performance coaches in the country. He holds a PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience from UCLA's department of Psychology and continues to do research on attention and cognitive performance. Dr. Hill is the founder of Peak Brain Institute, host of the Head First Podcast with Dr. Hill, Lead Neuroscientist at truBrain, and lectures at UCLA, teaching courses in psychology, neuroscience, and gerontology. I went in to the Peak Brain Institute of Los Angeles to meet with Dr. Andrew Hill having literally no idea what I was getting myself into. I had agreed, in advance, to get what they call a Quantitative EEG “brain mapping” assessment, and then have Dr. Hill go over the results with me live on the podcast. Easy… and fun. I was about to learn about how awesome my brain function was… or so I thought. For the test, they put a web of electrodes over my skull and watched my brain waves for about 20 minutes, after which they made me go through a nauseatingly boring number sequencing test. The only hard part of either was keeping myself from drifting off to sleep. Simple, right? Super fun. Piece of cake. Until hearing the results - live on the podcast. Turns out, I’ve got some brain issues. See that picture below? The one where the map of my brain looks bright red? Those are my Theta waves… and the bright red color indicates I’m 3 or more standard deviations away from normal (which is a lot in statistical talk). YIKES! For the full rundown of what this all means you’ll have to listen in on the podcast. But don’t fear, it’s not all bad. The point of the testing is not just to find out what’s wrong, but to actually do something about it. Dr. Hill said that with regular training, conditions like mine that can affect my sleep, attention span and ability to focus are fully correctable. I’ll be doing at least a month’s worth of brain training to find out just how much of a difference it makes - so look for the follow-up episode! Enjoy!

Today we dive into the science of the brain, how to keep it healthy, and what you can do to make your brain more focused, alert, and productive. Dr. Andrew Hill, PhD is the Lead Neuroscientist at truBrain and founder of Peak Brain, and he discusses how your brain needs to be exercised, what foods […]

Today we dive into the science of the brain, how to keep it healthy, and what you can do to make your brain more focused, alert, and productive. Dr. Andrew Hill, PhD is the Lead Neuroscientist at truBrain and founder of Peak Brain, and he discusses how your brain needs to be exercised, what foods […]

What long term positive effects can nootropics give to our busy lives? Can new breakthroughs in cognitive neuroscience help us attain the focused state of attention to meet the demands of our busy modern world? Andrew Hill, PhD, is a lecturer, scientist, explorer, and also the lead neuroscientist at TruBrain. Today on the show, Dr. Hill and I discuss everything from frontal lobes to biofeedback, and more.  Focused Attention Improving focus and efficiency is the greatest weapon for ambitious people looking to accomplish more. In today’s connected 24/7 world, clocking more hours in the office no longer provides the same unique advantage that it used to. To become more efficient, you first need to understand your equation for productivity. This equation starts with the human brain and how your brainwave states dictate your output. Because we measure brainwaves, we can actually quantify what happens in the brain when someone is in a focused state. Want more focus? Use code "WELLFX" for 25% off all truBrain products     Cognitive Neuroscience  Dr. Hill holds a PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience from UCLA's department of Psychology and continues to do research on attention and cognitive performance. He is the Lead Neuroscientist for truBrain, an LA-based mental performance company, as well as the cofounder of Alternatives Addiction Treatment. He lectures at UCLA, teaching courses in psychology, neuroscience, and gerontology,and has recently opened a peak brain performance center in Los Angeles named the Peak Brain Institute. From a storied perspective, Dr. Hill’s road to being a neuroscientist has been the ultimate heroes journey: In the past, he’s worked on a farm, in technology sector, in mental health facilities, and many different previous careers that give him a unique understanding of how humans behave and what holds them back, and the science of how brain health can literally change lives. Currently focused on developing tools and technologies to help everyday citizens enhance their cognitive performance outside of the lab---- as the lead neuroscientist at TruBrain, an LA-based mental performance company, Dr, Hill is the founding director of Alternatives Behavioral health AND the Alternatives Brain Institute. Links From Today's Show truBrain Website Use code "WELLFX" for 25% off all truBrain products Peak Brain Los Angeles What is biofeedback? Cognitive Neuroscience Meditation tracking Nootropics Performance coffee Circadian rhythm You May Also Like These Episodes A Personal Trainer For Your Mind With Julianna Raye Healthy, Happy & Harder To Kill w/ Steph Gaudreau of Stupid Easy Paleo Beyond Meditation: How To Get A Better Brain With Ariel Garten Living A Healthy Lifestyle In A Modern World With Dan Pardi  Creating A Life Worth Living With Michael Strasner Are You Interested In Changing Old Habits With New Technology? Download your free Digital Health Transformation Guide: wellnessforce.com/radio Don't miss next week's show: Subscribe to the show and stay updated Did you like the show? Support Wellness Force and leave us a quick rating and review on iTunes So nice!  You read all the way to the bottom? That's what I call love! I do the same thing for the people, things, and movements I care about as well. PS: Looks like you and I share the same passion. I'm grateful for you and want to extend you my email address. Write to me and let me know what you'd like to have to get more wellness in your life.    

Have you seen the movie "Limitless" with Bradley Cooper where one pill makes him a super genius (with crazy side effects?). Have you taken Adderall, Modanifil, Ritalin or other drugs to help you focus? Do you have trouble with focus, motivation and burnout? Then this "episizzle" is going to be just what the doctor ordered. That doctor is Dr. Andrew Hill, Lead Neuroscientist for truBrain, and a cofounder of Alternatives Addiction Treatment and has recently opened a peak brain performance center in Los Angeles named the Peak Brain Institute. He's joined by Chris Thompson, the Founder and CEO of truBrain, an online food tech brand leveraging neurotechnology to disrupt the energy drink market with functional beverages that support direct focus instead of caffeine-induced alertness   We're going to discuss the myths and realities of products like the "Limitless-pill" and if it really exists. What "Nootropics" do for your brain and why you may want to look into using them. The safety of today's nootropics The role of caffeine in your regimen How to make coffee work better for you How Nootropics differ from legal and illegal stimulants How to get better brain performance overall. I've personally been using different Nootropic regimens for the past three years and that's why I invited Dr. Hill and Chris Thompson on the show today so I could pick their truBrains clean about how to get the most out of my noggin. Want to try truBrain for yourself, go to truBrain.com and use coupon code: bacon for 25% off!

Mike spends time with the Lead Neuroscientist of truBrain, Dr. Andrew Hill, on this episode of the podcast. They talk about a ton of "brain stuff", including the importance of getting things out of your head, how decision fatigue works, and more. Relevant Links https://trubrain.com/ (truBrain | (re)Designing Focus) http://pomodorotechnique.com/ (The Pomodoro Technique®) http://productivityist.com/podcast-66-michael-townsend-williams/ (The Productivityist Podcast 66: A Doer Who Likes To Be with Michael Townsend Williams | Productivityist) http://juliacameronlive.com/basic-tools/morning-pages/ (Morning Pages | Julia Cameron) http://www.miramax.com/movie/comedian/ (Comedian | Official Site) http://pavlok.com/ (Pavlok | Break Bad Habits in Five Days) https://twitter.com/andrewhillphd (Andrew Hill, PhD (@AndrewHillPhD) | Twitter) http://peakbrainla.com/ (Peak Brain Institute) Enjoy the episode!

Dr. Andrew Hill is a cognitive neuroscientist and lecturer at UCLA. He conducts research on attention and cognitive performance, and he is the Lead Neuroscientist for truBrain, a start-up that offers nootropic supplements, in the form of capsules and drinks (nootropics are drugs that may enhance memory and focus, however much of the research elucidating mechanisms of action of these drugs remains to be done). Dr. Hill is also a cofounder of Alternatives Addiction Treatment, a start-up that offers addiction treatment on the basis of biofeedback, discussed in this episode. For more information, visit the websites of truBrain and Alternatives Addiction Treatment.

Andrew is the Lead Neuroscientist at TruBrain and Director of Neurocognitive Services at Alternatives Behavioral Health and the Alternatives Brain Institute. He is also a Lecturer at the University of California, Los Angeles. He received his PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience from UCLA. Andrew is here with us today to tell us all about his journey through life and science.

# Episode 124 **Summary:** In Episode #124 Ari sits down with Dr. Andrew Hill, the Lead Neuroscientist at [truBrain](https://trubrain.com/). During their conversation, Ari and Dr. Hill discuss the secrets behind nootropics at-length, including what makes them “go” and why they're _so_ effective when it comes to helping people maximize their mind. **Special Announcements:** ## [Less Doing Live Event](https://lessdoinglabs.businessresearchgroup.org/sales/live-event-optin) The **Less Doing LIVE Event** in NYC is _less than six months away_! The best minds in business and productivity are joining Ari in his hometown of New York City to share their tips, strategies and secrets for success. Visit [LessDoingLive.com](http://www.lessdoinglive.com/) to learn more about this fantastic opportunity running from **May 1st – 3rd**. ## [Less Doing System Seminar](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/seminar-less-doing-system-by-ari-meisel-tickets-14912003203) Join Ari Meisel, the master of “_Optimize, Outsource and Automate_,” as he conducts two exclusive seminars in the heart of **New York City on March 9th, 2015**. During this seminar, Ari explains how the Less Doing System recaptures time, slashes stress and enriches lives. Best of all, these sessions are **100% free**. To register, go to [Eventbrite](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/seminar-less-doing-system-by-ari-meisel-tickets-14912003203) now! ## [Mastermind Talks](http://www.mastermindtalks.com/) Looking for an opportunity to see Ari speak live somewhere on the west coast?—Look no further! On **April 29th and 30th** , Ari will be featured at the _Mastermind Talks_ event in **Napa, California**. To learn more about this opportunity to watch Ari “_Optimize, Outsource and Automate_” in wine country, click [here](http://www.mastermindtalks.com/). **Time Stamped Show Notes:** - 31:15 – Introduction of Dr. Andrew Hill, Lead Neuroscientist at [truBrain](https://trubrain.com/) - 31:32 – What inspired Dr. Hill's passion for nootropics - 33:40 – How Dr. Hill joined truBrain - 34:10 – Debunking some of the _Limitless_ myths surrounding nootropics - 35:25 – Nootropics don't give users a “high” but they do allow people to stay focused for longer periods of time - 36:10 – The numbers behind truBrain - 41:00 – Nootropics are not habit-forming; they do not produce tolerance, addiction, etc. - 41:55 – [_Nootropics_] _won't turn an idiot into a genius, but if that information is somewhere inside you they may help get it out._ - 42:40 – Verbal fluency and nootropics - 43:40 – L-theanine is an amino acid found in tea leaves that produces a calming effect - 44:48 – Even in the absence of tobacco, nicotine is still slightly carcinogenic - 45:28 – The ingredients within truBrain - 45:40 – The “-racetam Family”; chemicals synthesized from chemistry of [GABA](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamma-Aminobutyric_acid) - 47:50 – [Piracetam](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piracetam) has a _dramatic _effect on cell membrane flexibility - *49:24 – [Oxiracetam](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxiracetam) - *50:56 – _The –racetam combined with a choline source is the 1-2 punch in truBrain_ - 49:00 – When choosing cognitive enhancers, choose things that have been around for a long time or use ingredients that are well established as “safe” - 52:10 – Those with a history of stimulant abuse likely have a damaged dopamine system - 54:12 – truBrain comes in a monthly pack and Dr. Hill recommends taking them _every_ day - 55:05 – Dr. Hill's _Top 3 Tips for Being More Effective_ - 55:12 – Performance has bottlenecks, stress being the most finicky - 56:26 – Shift happens—The brain is an elastic, pattern-matching machine - 57:50 – _SLEEP­—_The easiest way to “hack” your brain is to wake up at the same time every day - 59:17 – tr --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lessdoing/message

The following is a guest post by Dr. Andrew Hill, Lead Neuroscientist at . Click here for a fascinating audio podcast that accompanies this article. featuring Ben Greenfield and Dr. Hill. Dr. Hill received his PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience from UCLA in 2012, studying how attention operates in the brain. He has been employed as a Lecturer at UCLA over the past few years, teaching multidisciplinary courses on both Healthy Brain Aging and courses in Neuroscience and Psychology. Dr. Hill has published chapters on measuring and modulating human attention, and continues to research self regulation. Prior to UCLA, Dr. Hill obtained extensive experience working with both psychiatric and developmental populations as well as gaining experience in high technology areas. He received his B.S. in Psychology/Neuroscience from UMass Amherst, and is a key adviser in the formulation of the (get 20% off on your purchase with the code BEN20). --------------------------------- The Limitless Pill In the , Bradley Cooper’s character gets his hands on a smart drug (NZT-48) that enables him to be cognitively super human. The only known side effect is that his eyes change color while he is on the drug, but that changes over the course of the movie as side effects, including withdrawal symptoms, begin to get worse and worse. It’s a sci-fi thriller with a not-so-feel-good message about addiction and performance enhancing substances. And goons chasing you. Makes smart drugs sound dangerous, right? Like any good sci-fi , this movie questions our assumption on the limits of science. And some of what it is suggesting is not science fiction today. Smart drugs and nootropics are a current reality, being used more and more not to treat or remediate any active condition or complaint but towards boosting already typical or superior performance, in colleges, board rooms, military theatres, and by forward thinking gerontologists. With the wide variety of compounds available today that have some research support for cognitive effects, it is important for you to understand the risks and benefits associated with usage, or at least how to choose smarter, when choosing things that affect your brain. For example, one of the most popular misconceptions about smart drugs is that they are the same as nootropics. This may be due to similar benefits that people use them for, but ultimately they do not share the same range of effects, mechanisms of action, safety and side effects. So - what are smart drugs? What are nootropics? How do we know if something is safe or effective? What are these drugs actually doing to my brain? Why am I asking so many questions without answering them? Keep reading to get this and more information you need to understand these questions, and start formulating your own answers - and your own strategies for selecting nootropics. --------------------------------------- Smart Drugs vs. Nootropics A smart drug is generally a prescribed medication or off-label drug used primarily to treat some kind of mental or cognitive disorder. The most common are drugs such as Adderall (dextroamphetamine) or Ritalin (methylphenidate) in the stimulant class used to treat symptoms related to ADHD - although legal and illegal off-label use is rampant. And while they may promote focus and energy in some people, others have dramatic side effect, to body and brain. Smart drugs in the stimulant class also tend to be reinforcing, producing spikes in dopamine and norepinephrine. This leads to tolerance and habit formation, including adverse effects on appetite, mood stability, cardiac function, stress levels and possibly many other unwanted effects - especially on younger brains such as teens and young adults. Irritability and mood swings, anxiety, sleep issues, and other forms of emotional or cognitive regulation problems can crop up over time with stimulant use, as well. A popular atypical stimulant “smart drug” includes the narcolepsy agents Modafinil / Adrafinil, although their effects on cognition beyond wakefulness are unproven, and side effects - while rare - can be life threatening. If attention problems are already present the side effect risk appears to be significant increased, as well. (). In contrast to a smart drug, a nootropic is generally a non-prescribed compound, including vitamins, herb, other supplements, natural or synthetic compound that may increase or protect cognition in some way. The preponderance of research in the past 40 years shows some effects on focus, attention, effects on aging, and possibly cellular metabolism. To paraphrase the definition of “nootropic” as , it is something that improves cognition without appreciable side effects, or provides from protection to the brain. In a modern context we think of nootropics as something used not to treat any mental condition or pathology directly, but instead to provide support to peak function, protect against long term risk, and provide daily boost. Across the field, true nootropic ingredients and full blends can now be found largely sourced from natural ingredients. Nootropic blends are designed to leverage synergy effects suggested in the research and subjective experiences. The goals with nootropics should always be to allow for greater and more consistent cognitive effort and flow, without the side effects of a stimulant or other harsh substance. ------------------------------ How Do I Know If A Smart Drug Is Safe? As a rule of thumb, it is the nature of science to be wrong at times. We’ve come a long way since we accepted that the theory behind the Earth being the center of the universe was wrong. We understand that new research may overturn old knowledge. So how can we truly know the risks and benefits of long term use of nootropics or smart drugs? A red flag in understanding the harm of a substance is the body’s ability to handle an overabundance of this substance. Small amounts of toxic substances may be beneficial in the short term, but the magic happens when we look at what is happening in the body when we get too much. Something as simple as a cup of coffee may seem harmless, but caffeine in high amounts can cause dizziness, anxiety, and even cardiac arrest or death. Caffeine mimics the action of the neuromodulator adenosine in the body. This leads to higher adrenaline and cortisol levels. Even in typical doses caffeine can deeply affect our sleep and cause heart arrhythmias for some people. Alcohol has even worse short and long term toxicity symptoms at non-moderate doses, and some people struggle to keep their dosing moderate. In better doses - perhaps a couple cups of coffee a day (without sugar) and a drink or so per day on average, these substance are actively health promoting, and reduce risk for many brain and cardiac diseases. When you are picking substances and compounds, dosing should be cautious at first. From this, a couple rules come out - 1) don’t take any compounds, substance, or blends of substances that don’t list all their ingredients out in plain amounts. Proprietary blends with lump-sum amount hiding buzzword-compliant list of magical ingredients known as “fairy dusting” in the supplement industry. Don’t be fooled. Read the ingredients. Figure out why and what is in there, and if you want it. 2) don’t chase suspicious research chemicals without much history of use or safety profile. Experiment on yourself if you like, but you only have one brain - make rational and cautious choices. There are nootropic, smart drug, and cognitive enhancers that have been around for decades - something released last week as a “Research Chemical” with a bunch of numbers and letters for a name and no human studies isn’t worth the risk to you. Not for years. ------------------------------- What About Adderall & Modafinil Safety? Smart drugs such as Adderall can cause dangerous lows, psychosis with extreme use, rebound fatigue, and depression, even at lower use levels. As an amphetamine, Adderall can act as a reuptake inhibitor, meaning that it can compete with other neurotransmitters for reuptake. Specifically it is thought to block the uptake of dopamine and norepinephrine, which are associated with reward behaviors and our nervous system functions, respectively. This causes a flood of these neurotransmitters onto multiple receptors, causing neurotransmitter depletion and overexcited receiving neurons. This large “signal” is the reason for the focus, but also responsible for some of the side effects that go along with this class of prescription drugs. Existing research is also a bit weak on any improvement that Adderall or other stimulants may have on short term memory or cognitive function, and some actually may impair function. Modafinil, also known as Provigil, is an example of a smart drug that has been used like a nootropic. Modafinil is prescribed to treat sleep disorders, but when combined with a normal functioning brain, can potentially cause increases in cognition and awareness. Just like Adderall, the use of these drugs outside the medical field does not make them a nootropic. Modafinil is also a reuptake inhibitor for dopamine, causing the same type of neurotrasmitter flood as Adderall. However, Modafinil may also affect the histaminergic pathway, which deals with wakefulness and the delicate immune response of the body. Histaminergic neurons in the brain are more active during wakefulness and slow their firing pattern as we rest or sleep. Modafinil’s “beneficial” side effects may come from this heightened histaminergic neuronal activation, but too much activation can cause apoptosis, or cell death. In addition, this has been shown to cause adverse skin reactions that required hospitalization since the histamine pathway also deals with our immune system. Modafinil may increase your intelligence, but can be extremely dangerous to the health of your brain and body. ------------------------------- Enter Nootropics Nootropics, , and a few other products on the market, have dose-toxicity levels much lower than salt, caffeine, and especially Adderall. There doesn’t seem to be any neurotransmitter depletion, tolerance or habit forming potential, adverse body side effects, or impaired brain function, from most true nootropics, by Girugea’s definition. The mechanisms for nootropics lie within the structural connectivity of the brain, the optimization of blood flow and oxygenation, and the fortification of brain regions over long term consistency. Nootropics act more as a super supplement to protecting the brain. Girugea’s own first synthesized nootropic (in 1964) is still in use today and has been shown to have effects on mitochondrial metabolism, cell membrane fluidity, and functional connectivity in the brain. Piracetam is this poster child for nootropics, and one of the main ingredients in . It is one of the only compounds used in that formulation that can not be found in nature, however it was originally derived from - and has structural similarities to - the neurotransmitter GABA. Since Girugea bought piracetam to light in 1964, there has been lots of research to support the benefits of piracetam. It has been shown to positively affect our cell membranes and to have neuroprotective and pro-metabolism effects on cells. The fluidity in our membranes changes with stress and old age, as well as moment to moment as one method of regulating receptor activity. By keeping our membranes healthy we can promote the cells ability to communicate. For example, combines other membrane oriented supplements - including choline. The cell membrane - especially in the brain - relays ongoing control signals and messages from other cells to the inner processes of the cell. Neurons’ membranes in the axon (wiring) and soma (cell body) help generate and propagate electrical signals, sum distant signals, and even have computational and complex learning functions related to changes in membrane function.Healthier and more active cell membranes bring us increased activity and cell communication, and hopefully better cognition. Piracetam along with other ingredients such as magnesium, choline, and DHA, increases in brain plasticity and are designed to improve cognition and efficiency under processing load - or peak performance, versus remediation. Nootropics may support increased cognitive potential as well as long term protection. The team added L-Theanine and L-Tyrosine to support neurotransmitters of GABA and Dopamine, respectively. You can use a similar or different strategy when building your own nootropic regimen, but use a strategy. Know why you are putting an ingredient in, know how it might interact with the others, and be sure that dosing is safe. When you are planning your nootropic or nutraceutical regimen, think in terms of nutrition support to cell metabolism and function, amino acids, natural or near-natural compounds, and avoid bad fats and harsh chemicals that give a momentary boost at the cost of later crashing or having other more serious side effects, such as excess sugars and caffeine. And don’t forget what else you put in your mouth - additional DHA and other omega-3 fatty acids (in grass fed meats, deep sea fish) are excellent for brain health. Craft your diet like you craft your brain supplement regimen - or have both catered / curated for you in a high end product. If you do create your own blend, think precise selection, not shotgun approach, and add slowly to your regimen. -------------------------------- The Problem With Instant Gratification As a culture, we often hear false marketing claims or create mindsets about what is possible with our health. We see ads that advertise a pill that gets rid of “stomach fat fast”. Truthfully, fat is lost uniformly in the body and the fastest and healthiest way to lose weight it about 1-2 pounds uniformly a week. So we eat poorly and don’t exercise for 2 years and then criticize our healthy workout plans and diet 1 month in when we don’t get the results we want. The healthiest and most effective things in life are often the ones that we do routinely. Consistency is key. This is true if you are talking about athletic performance, academic or intellectual training, or nutrition and supplement support. While not “necessary” like supplements or medicines, nootropic use follows this principle as well. There is another rule, emerging. If something is strongly “felt” dose to dose - if it gets you high, or wired, or sedated...it’s a smart drug, recreational drug, or something that may enhancing some aspect of performance (perhaps at the expense of another), but is definitely not a nootropic. And finally, nootropics should be sustainable. With some nootropics there is an initial loading phase followed by a maintenance phase, and while subtle, results can be felt fairly quickly on the timescale of a few days. The contrasting quick highs / crashes of coffee, alcohol, smart drugs, and even quickly digesting carbs are definitely experienced more immediately, but have consequences that make them unsustainable for many people. ------------------------------ Summary So in summary - here are a few initial rules to help select your own nootropic or cognitive enhancing blend: Know your ingredients, and their amounts. Don’t spend your money on obfuscate fairy dusting or expensive blends that are full of caffeine or random research chemicals. It’s not a nootropic if it has side effects. Your nootropic solutions should focus on mild nutritive and metabolic support, for long term gains and protection. Break the cycle peak and crash that you get with too many stimulants, and avoid the more serious side effects that you risk with smart drugs. Nootropics don’t get you high, altered, or wired. And don’t forget the other accessible and evidence-based brain and cognition improving methodologies we have at our disposal today: meditation, yoga, and other contemplative (attention training) practices, biofeedback and neurofeedback, diets high in good fats, and other modifiable behaviors you can implement to take control of your brain health and performance. So take care of your brain - the tools are out there, to support health and shift performance. Leave your questions, comments and feedback at . Also, if you want to try the nootropic that Dr. Hill helped design, and get 20% off on your purchase with the code BEN20.