4 ms·

Study identifies protein which improves synaptic plasticity in animal models

49 points by ekm2 12y ago

gerbal 12y ago
Terrible title. Should be something like "Study identifies protein which improves synaptic plasticity in animal models"
- dang 12y ago
  Excellent suggestion. Changed.
lettergram 12y ago
The testing was done on mice and the number measurements are limited. It is probably safe to say, this research has a long way to go before it is safe to claim we can return an adult human brain to the "child-like" state.
droopyEyelids 12y ago
There are a bunch of people that are going to hear about this, get excited, and then test it on themselves. Well, there would be a lot more if it was a simple chemical and not a protein, but still, it's the kind of thing that grad students might share with their friends. And it can and will be a crazy thing to do when they take it. But the point I'd like to make is that whatever they experience won't be added back to the sum of human knowledge, because their self-administration will be illegal or un-condoned. I wish there was a way for informed volunteers to consent to legitimate studies about this, because it's like an untapped resource to waste the courage of the nootropic fanatics who are going to do experiments on themselves.
- Retric 12y ago
  I suspect people who regularly do 'novel' drugs are a long way from a representative sample. Ideally you want to test as close to a clean slate as possible.
  - xkcd-sucks 12y ago
    http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2008/01/07/guinea-pigging http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2008/01/07/guinea-pigging
  - jostmey 12y ago
    I don't it really matters all that much. The real bottleneck is testing it. Then worry about finding a more representative sample if it works.
- xkcd-sucks 12y ago
  I feel like mining the text of Erowid/Bluelight/Longecity could be interesting... from a large enough corpus you could probably figure out some differences in pharmacology between a few related compounds. And maybe get some adme/tox info as well. As for actual experiments, liability would be a nightmare... maybe someone in Sealand/North Korea/etc could administer a framework where they mail you samples+instructions and you send back a daily questionnaire or something
hackuser 12y ago
Does anyone know anything about the publication, Neomatica?
- matznerd 12y ago
  The publication is in Science Translational Medicine http://stm.sciencemag.org/content/6/258/258ra140.full http://stm.sciencemag.org/content/6/258/258ra140.full
martin1975 12y ago
Is it a red pill?
matznerd 12y ago
There are other ways to initiate plasticity in the brain, aside from chemical. Heavy weight resistant exercise is one of those that are greatly overlooked. There are also nootropic substances on the market that can help with memory formation and increased synaptic activity, which can be grouped into neuroplasticity. Check out this talk by Max Cynader on "Enhancing the plasticity of the brain" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Chr3rQ6Vpcw#t=417 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Chr3rQ6Vpcw#t=417

49 points by ekm2 12y ago

gerbal 12y ago

Terrible title. Should be something like "Study identifies protein which improves synaptic plasticity in animal models"

dang 12y ago
Excellent suggestion. Changed.

lettergram 12y ago

The testing was done on mice and the number measurements are limited. It is probably safe to say, this research has a long way to go before it is safe to claim we can return an adult human brain to the "child-like" state.

droopyEyelids 12y ago

There are a bunch of people that are going to hear about this, get excited, and then test it on themselves. Well, there would be a lot more if it was a simple chemical and not a protein, but still, it's the kind of thing that grad students might share with their friends. And it can and will be a crazy thing to do when they take it. But the point I'd like to make is that whatever they experience won't be added back to the sum of human knowledge, because their self-administration will be illegal or un-condoned. I wish there was a way for informed volunteers to consent to legitimate studies about this, because it's like an untapped resource to waste the courage of the nootropic fanatics who are going to do experiments on themselves.

Retric 12y ago
I suspect people who regularly do 'novel' drugs are a long way from a representative sample. Ideally you want to test as close to a clean slate as possible.
- xkcd-sucks 12y ago
  http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2008/01/07/guinea-pigging http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2008/01/07/guinea-pigging
- jostmey 12y ago
  I don't it really matters all that much. The real bottleneck is testing it. Then worry about finding a more representative sample if it works.
xkcd-sucks 12y ago
I feel like mining the text of Erowid/Bluelight/Longecity could be interesting... from a large enough corpus you could probably figure out some differences in pharmacology between a few related compounds. And maybe get some adme/tox info as well. As for actual experiments, liability would be a nightmare... maybe someone in Sealand/North Korea/etc could administer a framework where they mail you samples+instructions and you send back a daily questionnaire or something

hackuser 12y ago

Does anyone know anything about the publication, Neomatica?

matznerd 12y ago
The publication is in Science Translational Medicine http://stm.sciencemag.org/content/6/258/258ra140.full http://stm.sciencemag.org/content/6/258/258ra140.full

martin1975 12y ago

Is it a red pill?

matznerd 12y ago

There are other ways to initiate plasticity in the brain, aside from chemical. Heavy weight resistant exercise is one of those that are greatly overlooked. There are also nootropic substances on the market that can help with memory formation and increased synaptic activity, which can be grouped into neuroplasticity. Check out this talk by Max Cynader on "Enhancing the plasticity of the brain" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Chr3rQ6Vpcw#t=417 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Chr3rQ6Vpcw#t=417