4 ms·

Sorry to be a pessimist here, but is there any evidence that you've increased your intelligence in anything that can't be trained? Dual-N-Back benefits from tra

Sorry to be a pessimist here, but is there any evidence that you've increased your intelligence in anything that can't be trained? Dual-N-Back benefits from training, IQ tests benefit from training, and fluid intelligence is really such a subjective term its hard to tell anything based on that. Can you elaborate on the "minor issues" that it has helped with, how your "fluid intelligence" has gone up, and what your mental exercise routine is? I don't mean to be nasty, but I do have a healthy dose of skepticism about many of these topics.

winfred 12y ago
Why would I consider your response pessimistic? It seems to be a totally valid remark to me. No, there is no evidence at all. However, the medication I have been taking, is known to improve the ability to focus in people with a certain DNA marker. And I have that DNA marker and I take this medication. The same goes with tDCS, over and over it is proven to improve certain brain functions, I have been using this device for the last 3 years now, the device has built in checks that show me that the current is actually going through my skull, I've seen the studies that show the flow of the electrons and I know where the electrodes are placed. I think we can make some assertions on the effects this has had on my brain? Regarding the minor issues, I sometimes have small bouts of depression, nothing too bad really, I never contemplate suicide for example, but still, it is nice that after a tDCS session these depressions tend to disappear. It could be coincidence, but there are research papers http://www.tmslab.org/publications/165.pdf http://www.tmslab.org/publications/165.pdf that also seem to imply that tDCS helps with depressions. The mental exercise consisted mainly of no longer using my episodic memory (I have very limited time related memory storage, it's really pathetic in some sense) and reading hundreds of audiobooks on the following topics: Psychology, Early Roman Civilization, Early Christian Religion, General History, Battle Tactics, Modern Warfare, Late Christian Religions, Philosophy, Story Telling, Programming (well, I just learned that on the computer, not with an audio book). As a result of doing that for a long time (over 10 years), 5 hours per day, I am now a theoretical subject matter expert on a wide range of topics.
- redmaverick 12y ago
  > DNA marker Can you expand on this? What is the medication you have been taking? With Dual N Back, do you think it improves WM on a temporary basis or is the increase permanent?
  - winfred 12y ago
    The drug in question is the widely known Modafinil, which I get in generic form from India. The gene is CYP2D6 [1], which I had checked by 23andme [2]. If you have the gene, when taken during the day, Modafinil allows you to focus for up to 12 hours straight, on the subject of your choosing (but you should choose something, or your attention span is wasted). With that focus, it is much easier to learn new things. [1] http://youscript.com/healthcare-professionals/why-youscript/fda-labeled-drugs/modafinil http://youscript.com/healthcare-professionals/why-youscript/... [2] https://www.23andme.com/ https://www.23andme.com/
    - ericthewino 12y ago
      What's the % of humans with CYP2D6? I couldn't find any stats online. Is this something that not all humans have?
      - winfred 12y ago
        From memory, there are two gene markers associated with it and 70% of the population has one of the two.
    - uncoder0 12y ago
      Which SNP should I be looking at on the CYP2D6 gene in my 23andme?
      - winfred 12y ago
        Rs4680: http://www.snpedia.com/index.php/Rs4680 http://www.snpedia.com/index.php/Rs4680

winfred 12y ago

Why would I consider your response pessimistic? It seems to be a totally valid remark to me. No, there is no evidence at all. However, the medication I have been taking, is known to improve the ability to focus in people with a certain DNA marker. And I have that DNA marker and I take this medication. The same goes with tDCS, over and over it is proven to improve certain brain functions, I have been using this device for the last 3 years now, the device has built in checks that show me that the current is actually going through my skull, I've seen the studies that show the flow of the electrons and I know where the electrodes are placed. I think we can make some assertions on the effects this has had on my brain? Regarding the minor issues, I sometimes have small bouts of depression, nothing too bad really, I never contemplate suicide for example, but still, it is nice that after a tDCS session these depressions tend to disappear. It could be coincidence, but there are research papers http://www.tmslab.org/publications/165.pdf http://www.tmslab.org/publications/165.pdf that also seem to imply that tDCS helps with depressions. The mental exercise consisted mainly of no longer using my episodic memory (I have very limited time related memory storage, it's really pathetic in some sense) and reading hundreds of audiobooks on the following topics: Psychology, Early Roman Civilization, Early Christian Religion, General History, Battle Tactics, Modern Warfare, Late Christian Religions, Philosophy, Story Telling, Programming (well, I just learned that on the computer, not with an audio book). As a result of doing that for a long time (over 10 years), 5 hours per day, I am now a theoretical subject matter expert on a wide range of topics.

redmaverick 12y ago
> DNA marker Can you expand on this? What is the medication you have been taking? With Dual N Back, do you think it improves WM on a temporary basis or is the increase permanent?
- winfred 12y ago
  The drug in question is the widely known Modafinil, which I get in generic form from India. The gene is CYP2D6 [1], which I had checked by 23andme [2]. If you have the gene, when taken during the day, Modafinil allows you to focus for up to 12 hours straight, on the subject of your choosing (but you should choose something, or your attention span is wasted). With that focus, it is much easier to learn new things. [1] http://youscript.com/healthcare-professionals/why-youscript/fda-labeled-drugs/modafinil http://youscript.com/healthcare-professionals/why-youscript/... [2] https://www.23andme.com/ https://www.23andme.com/
  - ericthewino 12y ago
    What's the % of humans with CYP2D6? I couldn't find any stats online. Is this something that not all humans have?
    - winfred 12y ago
      From memory, there are two gene markers associated with it and 70% of the population has one of the two.
  - uncoder0 12y ago
    Which SNP should I be looking at on the CYP2D6 gene in my 23andme?
    - winfred 12y ago
      Rs4680: http://www.snpedia.com/index.php/Rs4680 http://www.snpedia.com/index.php/Rs4680