As you nurture the physical, so too must you nurture the mental.
What are you doing to make brain gains? I'm playing tetris and writing moar.
>>37755657
Play chess instead. Take fish oil and mootropics. Read and write more about anything.
>chess
You're right, that's always something I've had in the back of my mind "I should get around to learning," but never did. I'm still going to play muh tetris, but I'll pick up chess as well.
>fish oil
Fell out of practice with that, have some cod liver oil in the fridge I haven't touched for a month, hopefully it's still good.
>nootropics
Haven't heard of those in a while. Any you'd recommend? The only one that comes to mind is "Piracetam," and the last time I read about it was more than three years ago.
>>37755657
Is there anything beneficial for playing Tetris ?
>>37755818
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306460315002762
The study's data itself looks weak (I'll see if a more thorough one exsts), but it's something at least. Stacking and organizing blocks regardless is something that needs attention and brain power so I suppose there'd be some gains to be made from repeatedly playing.
check out "n-back training" there are some good reports but also conflicting ones. it's stressful as fuck though.
>>37755736
> Chess
Just get the chess.com app do their lessons and play whenever you'd usually just dick around on your phone. It's not something I focus on but chess playing a few games a day I'm in the 800 level.
> Fish Oil
Unless you eat a lot of fish you should probably take it. I take like 6 a day.
>nootropics
> Piracetam 5g
> Choline Bitartrate 500mg
> Oxiracetam 750mg
My memory is much better than it's ever and they're "neuroprotective". There are a bunch of different types you could try but this is a pretty basic stack. Powdercity.com is the best place to order from. And you can Google a 10% discount code.
I coded something that takes 3 days to run. It's necessary for my job.
>>37756111
source?
>>37756111
Is some heavy computational work? Where do you work?
>>37755657
Learn an instrument. I play violin and piano, and take fish oil every day. It's basically one of the best things to do for your mental development.
>>37756175
Is 23 too late to learn an instrument? Feel like I missed the boat for that hobby.
>>37756192
It's never too late to learn anything, brah.
>>37756204
Hope you're right, getting out of a depressive rut.
>>37756235
It can be harder if you start later, but that doesn't mean it's impossible.
>>37756192
I teach guitar for a living. You'd be surprised how many of my students are over 50
>>37755657
>I go on /g/ and look for topics in CS that I'm not familiar with and then read about them on wikipedia
>A close friend is a competitive debater, so he's been teaching me how to make good arguments in exchange for me helping him with GMAT math
>Meditate
>Sleep more
>>37756326
>Meditate
I do this, it helps. You notice when you fall out of practice too.
>>37756339
Right? You get better and better at not thinking and just sensing your surroundings the more you do it.
>>37756358
Not only that, but in my own reactions as well.
Holy shit am I more of a sperglord when I go a while without meditating. It's incredible how different shit feels.
>>37756326
Have you done anything with machine learning?
>>37756614
Not at the moment. I've been mostly interested in microarchitectures and operating system development. AI and machine learning is next on my list, though.
>>37755657
I'm about to start working on my car on my own. I want to start learning about installing and fixing parts. I'm also trying to read more often. Any suggestions for reading?
>>37756715
"Suggestions" as in "what to read."
>>37756715
What are you looking to read?
Philosophy, fiction, history ?
>>37755846
>Stacking and organizing blocks regardless is something that needs attention and brain power
>>37756803
Shitposting does too.
>>37756662
Are working from the ground up or are experimenting with the Linux kernel? I'm interested in learning low level os stuff but I'm sure where to start.
>>37755657
Studying for STEP 2 CK. Did like 140 minutes of anki today. Brain is kill.
>>37755657
Reading, playing music, taking every possible opportunity to socialize, amd psychedelics
>>37756074
Is the difference significant on nootropics? Idk if it's worth the money
>>37756809
I guess you're right. I was just laughing cause it sounded childish.
regardless, the thing about tetris is that the game stays the same. I think if you had more complex block puzzles, like "fit these 10 pieces in this shape/space" then it got more difficult you'd be on to something. spatial advancement. i think tetris could become too "automatic" and learned. you want to force adaptation, not necessarily perfect the game
I'm getting back in the dating game and learning to play. So far I've scored 1. Goal's 3 and choose one of those to go steady with.
>>37756849
A 50 day supply of piracetam and choline costs about 30$. Oxiracetam adds a bit more I'm not sure off the top of my head. It's definitely worth it to me. My memory and recall is much better now and it's not just limited to when I started taking the drugs.
>>37756824
Ground up--developing a toy unix system in C and x86. I recommend getting well versed in hardware and assembly languages before tackling low level OS stuff.
Any good lectures on youtube? Been listening to alan watts and terrence mckenna a lot lately. I know alot of you lot are straight arrows and probably hatez these kind if anti establishment types but maybe I'll find some other rational people like myself here.
>>37756873
>I was just laughing cause it sounded childish.
It seems that way, but depending on how far you're gone in adulthood, depending on if you've binged on drugs for a while and are getting off of it, the simplest shit will help to some extent.
You could definitely try out more complex ones for sure.
>>37756914
I like working with C , but assembly looks like gibberish to me. Ty for the advice good luck with your endeavors.
>>37756715
D/o/n't do this, trust me.
>>37756975
Likewise. Try learning MIPS assembly first--it's MUCH more approachable than x86 or even ARM.
>>37756715
if your car looks like its got some space in the engine bay then go for it. car repair is KINDA like a puzzle (x piece attaches to y piece which connects the z) my first car was a 79 malibu and i had to fix shit on it all the time but there was plenty of room for me to get my hands and tools in there (ty small block :[ ) newer cars dont have as much room and getting to one specific part will probably require removing at least two other things. but fuck it thats where you learn.
as far as books go, read moby dick, meditations, and notes from underground.
>>37755657
Reading the /lit/ 100
Feels really fucking good getting back into fiction
Any opinon on Vyvanse ?
I know some guy who can sell it to me for cheap so I'm wondering wether I should take them.
>>37757107
turns my friend who is on them into a monotone, soulless zombie. He focuses though
>>37757014
Any book recommendations?
>>37757105
Wow, gayest fucking post ever.
Kill you're self fagget.
>>37757298
Apply yourself anon
>>37757309
Actually lift fagget.
>Next
>>37757107
I have a script for 60mg. It's pretty good recreationally speaking it's not as good as addy but for getting stuff done it's better imo. It's a lot smoother and cleaner than adderal and you don't get that tunnel vision as bad. The comedown isn't nearly as bad either. How much is he selling them for?
>>37757105
The Stranger is amazing, it should definitely be next on your list. What have you read off that list so far?
How do I meditate? Is it literally just sitting down and not thinking about anything?
>>37757359
Moby Dick
Crime and Punishment
Catcher in the Rye
Animal Farm
1984
Lord of the Flies
Huck Finn
Half of infinite jest. Damn that novel is dense
>>37757360
Just sitting and doing nothing, whether you're thinking or not. Or hell, you could stand I suppose. Depends on preference really.
ok here's what i did it worked pretty well
>get hit by fan
>suffer traumatic brain injury
>recover
>realize i kicked death's ass and develop a fuckton of confidence
>realize i worried about way too much shit and i'm gonna die anyway so embrace nihilism with a smile on my face
>>37756192
Nah man, you should always push yourself to learn new things throughout your life. I'm thinking about learning guitar myself.
>>37757392
it did not, however, give me the ability to remember to proof-read.
van*
>>37755736
... Tetris isn't a game that requires mental effort. Like, at all.
>>37757392
>>37757405
im so sorry for what happened to you but when i read the second part to your comment i lost it
>>37757520
thanks anon
>>37757490
don't be sorry man, i'm glad it happened. toughened me up. :)
>>37755657
Braingains are a meme
>>37757890
the brain is plastic. gains are in its nature
>>37757520
Damn this sounds useful, being a monk that is physically and mentally fit sounds so nice. Sometimes I just want to abandon this world and join them.
Read Frege's Foundations of Arithmetic, since you probably don't really know what the number 1 is.
>>37758072
what do mean
>>37757376
How is infinite jest?
>>37758150
http://www.naturalthinker.net/trl/texts/Frege,Gottlob/Frege,%20Gottlob%20-%20The%20Foundations%20of%20Arithmetic%20%281953%29%202Ed_%207.0-2.5%20LotB.pdf
>>37756165
I'm a grad student. Doing some heavy QMC numerics for a many-body QHE problem.
What are some good nootropics and microdosing drugs for social gains?
I don't have anxiety but nothing comes smooth for me if its not with my friends. Since I'm scared to fail I never bother. Is there anything I could take to fix my crippling social issues?
>>37759107
I've heard 10-25ug of LSD works wonders, same for mushrooms but I don't remember the dosage for that.
>>37759130
I've never done psychedelics though. I've also heard LSD makes you shit like crazy and your stomach gets upset so it's probably not the best for gains.
>>37759158
I've never heard any of those things, and at 10ug there are no psychedelic effects, you shouldn't feel high at all
Studying
Reading
Writing
that's really all there is to it bros, get on khan academy, invest in an ebook reader, and write a weekly article
don't forget to socialize and have in-depth conversations when possible
>>37759276
What's the point in all this fit?
>>37759299
none whatsoever, totally useless stuff
you can become a genius by just taking nootropics and playing brain-enhancing video games
>>37756926
Khan university
Not exactly in the vein of what you've been listening to, but it's educational as fuck. Takes maybe a while to really get into, but it's great when you do.
Does being a college community student count as brain gains...
Still practicing 汉è¯
Hit a bit of a wall I just don't understand the use of 从 and it's been confusing me on practicing words on travel
>>37755657
>How to make brain gains
>Do said task that what you want to good at
>Become good at it
I've heard n-back training is pretty much useless, but nootropics can be useful
>>37757376
check out slaughter-house 5
fun and quick read
M E D I T A T I O N
This is the only thing you need to train daily in order to get them massive brain gains.
>>37759858
meditation has done nothing for me. i need to move my body to feel any kind of transcendence.
lifting has basically been my fucking zen. it's incredible.
>>37759870
Train harder. Just like lifting meditation requires hard work.
im getting a phd in bioengineering and drinking a quart of motor oil every day
>>37756873
There's an interesting one on peak where you have to like remove different shaped blocks to make then look like a picture. It's sort of like tetris on roids.
>>37759794
N back training just allows you to focus and keep multiple ideas in your head.
I think chess, and then video games like strategy and fps would probably tie in with dual n back. There's another similar one where you memorise some stuff, then do some unrelated task, then recall.
All these things are meant to make you better at multitasking and so decision making.
Daily reminder not to neglect "Mind Gains" too, by this I mean trying to improve your mental outlook, confronting your fears and anxieties and negative personality traits
>>37756715
If you don't have a really good memory, take lots of pictures and notes. Plenty of people fuck up in fitting back together a lot of cars, and I hear it helps people work out how shit fits together.
If we're talking newer cars there's quite a scene around opening up the electronics bits too. So that might be of interest.
>>37755736
>>37755846
Does this also include playing tetris at high speed ?
Like 3 blocks per second.
>>37759873
i see no benefit to me. i've already found the components of my happiness, and they don't involve being still.
>>37755657
Studying neuroscience, meditating and dropping acid (On my acid trips I'm usually listening to and contemplating buddhist philosophy or brain chemistry and how it makes us "us"".
>>37759873
that's not really necessary. i've already found the components of my happiness, and although they will always need improvement, they do not and will not ever involve being still of body.
>>37760112
thanks for delaying my first post for 3 minutes, fourchyan.
>>37760108
How is the acid time dilation?
I listen to shit at increased speed, I'm semi interested if I could go even faster with some psilocybin or lsd or similar.
>>37755657
I drink a shit ton of alcohol
>>37760126
Time is weird as fuck on acid. It got me watching a video on youtube about a theory based on blackholes which suggests that time has already happened; and the universe exists as a 2d object in which everything has happened already. We are like a projection which relatively perceives time to be flowing.
I find that 5 minutes feels like 30 mins sometimes, the other day I went in to talk to my brother every 5 minutes but for me I thought it was 30 minutes.
Yesterday I had my first bad trip after 8 good trips. The acid seemed shit so I smoked some weed (Not smoked weed in years), it triggered the acid and I started getting crazy visuals. This triggered my heart (or so it seemed) to start beating crazy, I felt like I was going to have a heartattack and it sent me paranoid and panicing I was going to have a heart attack.
It was horrible and I won't be having any acid again for a few months. I think it's because my chest is sore and tight from lifting and it felt like an anxiety attack; that and also I've read weed + LSD is a bad combination. I tested the blotter with an Ehlrich test so it's definitely LSD.
>>37760146
am i the only one here who wants to remain in reality as much as possible?
>>37755941
I looked into that a few weeks ago. It has potential, as in, maybe someday they'll develop a kind of training based on this that will make good results. So far, though, the data, IF it even show benefits, shows only slight gains, while N-back training is a lot of work and also, as you said, stressful.
I mean, you probably won't lose anything by trying it out, and its miles better than any videogame if you want to improve your working memory, but don't expect too much.
>>37760160
What is reality? The entire thing exists in your head.
Your eyes pick up lightwaves which travel to your thalamus. Your thalamus transmit the data to your visual cortex, which sends it back to your Thalamus which has already got an imagination/prediction of the world already. The two compare data to provide you with your reality.
When you take LSD your brain opens new pathways which allow parts of the brain which never interact to start talking to each other. This effects your perceived reality and changes it.
You're in another reality now. Same world but maybe those trees now look 2d like they're photos (true story). Or maybe a flat image is now moving, or maybe you're looking into your black coffee and on the surface you can see the lights reflecting moving like a digital pattern, forming a picture you can see clearly as if you could see a painting when you're not on acid. You know the pattern pulsing through the top of your coffee isn't real, but you can see it perfectly. You don't "think you can see it, or imagine it", it's real but only relative to you.
This has really opened my eyes up to just how we exist. The space between us is a lie, we're all connected in a self sustaining eco system; our consciousness is a byproduct that makes us think we exist, it makes us forget we're all just little programs programmed to eat and die and sustain other animals and the earth so we can eat them and they can eat us. We're all small cogs in a big cosmic framework. We are the universe and our consciousness is the universe looking at itself and wrongly imagining it's something seperate.
Acid changed my life and made me alot happier/friendly. It made me realize people are important and social connections matter, my friends have commented I seem alot more happier now and alot more jokey. While knowing it's just neurochemistry and not believing in god or superstition, I'd rate psychedelic drugs as spiritual experiences for me. Yesterday was my first bad trip.
>>37760160
Reality is overrated, anon
>>37760217
i dunno man, i had a traumatic brain injury and shit was really fucking weird for a couple months.
i also constantly perceive things that most people don't.
i finally figured out how to create my own happiness.
i'm good sober. you know, with a drink here and there.
>>37760146
Interesting. The thing that'll be interesting for me to find out is if anything actually speeds up a part of the brain in listening or if it's like an illusion, you just think in a way that causes things to seem longer somehow. I'll probably try some other bits I've been pissing about with first.
And holographic theory is interesting fo sho. It's like a parmenides/Plato's cave sort of thing but based around shit that's out there.
>>37756826
what are those things?
>>37760227
me again: i'm also done giving a shit about the fact that reality isn't real.
it's mine, and that's all i care about. i used to think way too much. then i chilled the fuck out.
>>37760232
Well something I read the other day during studying neuroscience is that we exist "lagging" behind our reality. Our eyes and ear perceive things to happen a slight delay after they've actually happened and at slightly different speeds. Our mind messes with how we perceive time to slow down and speed these senses up and how we react to them.
Another interesting thing is that only we keep a narration of our own lives, we dictate our lives based on our memories, and we use these memories to state specific points in space time.
Animals don't do that; they don't have the parts of the brain required for conscious narration. They don't think "I am a cat named Steve and I need to hunt for food now", they think just simply act on impulse and react to experiences based on neural pathways programmed to teach us how to react.
How much is the same for us? How much is the conscious will in decision making, and how much is the neurons making those choices for us and making us hallucinate we have a consciousness which is consciously making the decision. We hallucinate we're making the choice of chicken or pork when in reality our pathways and making those choices and we're just imagining we're in control.
Psychedelic drugs can change our entire character on a trip and I find it fascinating just how fickle and malleable we are, we only exist as our brain chemistry. Even sadness is the triggering of neurons, we think we're sad and consciously try to override that willfully to try and be "happy" but those sad pathways are firing and making us depressed and we have no control over it. We are passengers hallucinating control.
>>37756339
I'm interested in the idea of regular meditation, how would you guide a learner?
>>37760359
Sit cross legged but you gotta be comfy. Don't slouch but don't be stiff upright either.
Breathe in and out naturally through your nose. Feel how it fills your lungs and feel how you exhale. Don't think, just feel. Try not to think about anything if you can help it, just feel your breathing in through the nose, into the lungs, out of the lungs and out of the nose.
Relax though. Don't get frustrated if it isn't working because that'll make it harder. The point isn't to "discipline the mind", it's to "calm" the mind and you only do that by relaxing. Let thoughts come and go if they do, just stay focused on the breathing and relax.
Eventually your breathing will slow and become fairly shallow, your heartrate will be slowed down and you'll feel really relaxed, your mind will calm and you'll be focused on your breath.
Set a timer for 15 - 20 mins to start out. Just try to relax and let yourself calm into "being" rather than "thinking". Relaxation is the key, stressing and "trying" is counter productive.
>>37760300
>Another interesting thing is that only we keep a narration of our own lives, we dictate our lives based on our memories, and we use these memories to state specific points in space time.
Rather than green text the whole comment, I'll just give you an idea of what I'm doing:
I have a couple of substances in storage thay affect primarily the hypothalamus. You may be aware that the hypothalamus shrinks under long term depression or PTSD. I'm starting to think this is down to like little semi conscious mental loops (like you're not typically aware of them, but you can become aware of them), and I found by following some Jungian ideas and some ideas from RD Laing (in Knots) you can sort of bring these loops into view and stop them. And this sort of frees up room to focus on other things. It's odd but like tine can seem like it's just speeding past iykwim, and then all of a sudden when you find this like sub vocal narrative your brain is doing time sort of slows down.
So I'm starting to wonder if this shrinkage in the hypothalamus isn't a result of these loops and the neural circuits just adapt and become more efficient in response. Like they just end up doing the same thing over and over. It'll be interesting if I've found something.
Plus it's so far off the beaten path of neuroscience or therapy that I have next to no worry about anyone nicking any ideas. If this shit got published it'd just be laughed and ignored at p much.
Modafinil and methylphenidate
>>37760399
I feel like I'd just fall asleep
Brain games usually only give you a slight increase in intelligence for that game/or type of game. This is true for most things in life. Sure some things have overreaching skills, but mostly, you only get good at what you're doing.
i.e.
>>37755657
will only make u better at writing and tetris, although there might be some transferable skills to similar things, like other tetris-like games, and probably vocabulary for writing.
>>37755736
there's literal retards (extremely low iq) that are chess grandmasters, so no, playing chest doesn't make you more intelligent in other areas.
>>37756175
instruments will give you better coordination and appreciation & understanding for music, but won't help you outside of that.
>>37756339
probably the best thing TT
the biggest takeaway: if you want to be good at everything, i.e. improve ALL of your brain, you have to do all those things. you won't get better at math by doing tetris, and you won't get better at music doing math. stop thinking in terms of general intelligence, it's an outdated theory of how our brains work.
>>37755657
i study a very academic bachelor
most of my peers are way quicker with their brain than the average person but have wrecked their body with countless hours of learning in a sitting position constantly high on coffee and tobacco.
Meanwhile im one of the smarter cats at my mma gym and one of the fitter guys at university. Feels good to master both the body and the brain.
>>37759107
Aniraceatam and phenibut
>>37755657
I'm a physics and math major with a 99th percentile IQ.
Simply going about my daily activities is mentally stimulating as I'm surrounded by academic geniuses.
>>37760832
Learning an instrument at a high level does way more than improve coordination. You may be right though if it's just casual guitar playing
>>37755657
>study physics
>write software / apps in my spare time (which, by the way, is paying for my tuition, rent, other living expenses AND leaving me with a nice bit of money extra for saving, investing and general debauchery)
>read at least one book a week, I like to cycle between books about science, history, philosophy, politics, economics and business.
>also currently learning a 4th language (Spanish)
>also looking to get into some DIY RC shit (mainly aerial vehicles) and also get back into drumming
pic unrelated (?)
>>37761594
Android or iOS?
I play the guitar, juggle and read. Also wanted to start meditating
>>37756849
examine them on examine.com, most nootropics are bullshit and a waste of your money.
>>37757286
https://www.amazon.com/Computer-Organization-Design-Fifth-Architecture/dp/0124077269
>>37755657
I have a synergy in both training and mental gains.
>supply more testosterone for your brain
gained with lowering BF and increasing muscle mass, also doing HIIT type of training, not eating sugar, eating enough carbs and good cholesterol.
>sleep well
at least 8 hours per day
>one hour per day walking
Increased bloodflow, lowers alzheimer risk, reduced resting heartrate. You are also more creative during a walk, its like a kinda shitty meditative technique.
>cocoa extract
>garlic
>Spirulina
>fish oil
>Ashwagandha
Most of these are for testosterone management, but some of them also have other things that may benefit you. Spirulina especially helps with a leaky nose. Though not exactly for brain health.
To be honest, most of this is damage management. The damage of the modern lifestyle that most people have. Once I step out of it and go to my peak peformance, both mentally and physically. I am not sure what I should do next. I dont even think that there are things that can help you go over 100%. Nootropics are a meme.
>>37762671
iOS
>>37761578
does making vaporwave on my laptop help?
>>37761594
Do you go on /g/?
>>37755657
I'm trying to read more every day. I read a classic then go to something easy to read like fantasy or some spy thriller.
Learning languages, French is my go-to now, but if I get my certificate, I'll move on to German.
Also trying to know everything there is to know about health and medicine. It just interests me. I'm not good at remembering the stuff though.
>>37760832
I'm going to disagree man. Working any part of the brain in a stimulating way increases neural plasticity, which increases your brain functioning in most areas.
As a neuroscience grad student, the main things that we are taught are important for a healthy brain are mostly exercise (stimulates BDNF, allows for pathway consolidation, esp for learning of new tasks), a good diet (insulin resistance also occurs in the brain! often leads to hippocampal degradation, which is one of the main areas for learning + memory), and learning NEW things (improving your existing skills is always helpful, but usually won't improve overall attention/memory ability). Also, I think it's really important to remember that no one function is localized to just one part of the brain (i.e. visual stimuli is not only processed by the occipital cortex), there are pathways, spanning many brain areas, for different functions. Still not well understood but yeah
>>37763345
Post sound cloud
Thinking video games are making you smart
Only solidifies your stupidity
Lmfao m8
>>37764814
> Not playing a wide variety of difficult games
> Not switching up controller and play through styles
Rip neuroplasticity faggot
>>37756295
I'm not at all surprised by the fact that people who never mustered up the discipline to learn something try again when they're having their midlife crisis and feel worthless and old.
How many of those guys actually make it?
>>37763385
rarely
>>37764090
>(improving your existing skills is always helpful, but usually won't improve overall attention/memory ability)
Any other ways to improve this besides adderall and vyvanse?
>>37766942
I'm assuming there a pitfalls in your diet, sleep hygiene and cardio routine so start there. Most people are lacking some form of micronutrients and most people are chronically dehydrated. I'd say try nootropics for memory. There is phenylpiracetam which is a decent stimulant it's actually banned from the Olympics for its athletic benefits. Meditation is supposed to help but I can't vouch for its efficacy.
>>37763388
What are you currently reading
>>37766942
> He needs meth to get work done
