Wednesday, 6 April 2011
substitutes, how to disguise the little cheats in life
how do you disguise all the little cheats in life, the cake-and-eat-it products. supplementary naughties for the sweet tooth and guilty of consciences. The diet-hiders, the little pick-me-ups, the little sly backhander in daily diets
Tuesday, 5 April 2011
more on smart drugs form the independant
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/are-smart-drugs-really-that-clever-1791131.html
The effects of the drug are well-proven. In 2003, Cambridge University researchers found a single dose helped male university students perform in mental planning tests, accurately complete puzzles and remember long chains of digits; it has also been tested by the US and British forces to allow soldiers to complete all-night operations. Scientists believe Modafinil can give its user 48 hours of continuous wakefulness (though there are some side effects: headaches are the most common, though there are plenty of others). The most remarkable thing, however, is that its users don't have to pay back sleep "debt" – a standard eight hours is enough to compensate for no sleep on the previous night: could this mean a future of 22-hour days? Our bosses may hope so.
The effects of the drug are well-proven. In 2003, Cambridge University researchers found a single dose helped male university students perform in mental planning tests, accurately complete puzzles and remember long chains of digits; it has also been tested by the US and British forces to allow soldiers to complete all-night operations. Scientists believe Modafinil can give its user 48 hours of continuous wakefulness (though there are some side effects: headaches are the most common, though there are plenty of others). The most remarkable thing, however, is that its users don't have to pay back sleep "debt" – a standard eight hours is enough to compensate for no sleep on the previous night: could this mean a future of 22-hour days? Our bosses may hope so.
smart drugs
articles o the safety, effectiveness, and ethics surrounding smart drugs designed to improve attention, awakeness and alertness.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/apr/06/students-drugs-modafinil-ritalin
"Modafinil is one of the new neuroenhancing "smart drugs" now being taken by growing numbers of students. It was originally developed for the treatment of narcolepsy, but is now used by students to combat fatigue. Another popular choice is Ritalin, originally designed as a treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Both increase levels of dopamine levels in the brain – and the alertness and wakefulness of those taking them.
More on the times:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/apr/06/students-drugs-modafinil-ritalin
"Modafinil is one of the new neuroenhancing "smart drugs" now being taken by growing numbers of students. It was originally developed for the treatment of narcolepsy, but is now used by students to combat fatigue. Another popular choice is Ritalin, originally designed as a treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Both increase levels of dopamine levels in the brain – and the alertness and wakefulness of those taking them.
So popular have these drugs become that last month Barbara Sahakian, professor of clinical neuropsychology at Cambridge University's psychiatry department, warned that their use has "enormous implications" and that universities must act on them – even mentioning dope testing as one possibility. But this is not happening. "What universities are doing about [them] is nothing," she says.
Students believe the drugs enable them to do more work. "I take them when I need to get through lectures and I have a terrible hangover," says Price.
At the other extreme, Lucy Makepeace, a postgraduate student at Cambridge, uses them less from a lack of diligence than an excess of it. Extremely hard working, she takes modafinil once or twice a week. "With study, work and sport I have a very full timetable," she says. "I want to do everything, but I don't want to do any of it at a mediocre level. Taking modafinil helps me to do it all."
"I don't think this is cheating. I read a nice analogy, which said that people with a bad memory are no different to people who have bad eyesight. You let people with bad eyesight have glasses; why not let people with a bad memory have these pills?"
"I don't think this is cheating. I read a nice analogy, which said that people with a bad memory are no different to people who have bad eyesight. You let people with bad eyesight have glasses; why not let people with a bad memory have these pills?"
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/features/article1780141.ece
limitless
it is said that we only use around 20% of our brains. The film limitless explores the idea of a pill enabling users to use the full capacity of their brains.
Would it work? what would happen? would your brain just melt?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12922451
maybe it's not so far fetched. the article above shows that people already take mind enhancing drugs. the type that are given to ADHD sufferers to improve concentration have become popular with students without the condition, as well as those in the military.
"Drugs like the one portrayed in the film do exist and they have been found to boost concentration and improve memory, hence the use of the term "smart drugs" to describe them.
Modafinil has been branded a smart drug because of its growing use among UK students to cope with the fatigue of exams.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12922451
maybe it's not so far fetched. the article above shows that people already take mind enhancing drugs. the type that are given to ADHD sufferers to improve concentration have become popular with students without the condition, as well as those in the military.
"Drugs like the one portrayed in the film do exist and they have been found to boost concentration and improve memory, hence the use of the term "smart drugs" to describe them.
Modafinil has been branded a smart drug because of its growing use among UK students to cope with the fatigue of exams.
Although it was originally designed to treat narcolepsy - extreme drowsiness and sleep disorders - its ability to increase levels of wakefulness and alertness has given it popularity among a number of groups.It has been used by the military to keep soldiers awake in times of combat and its use is thought to be on the rise among shift workers, such as nurses, doctors and pilots. Modafinil is also said to be popular among jet-lagged academics.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)