4029 replies to this topic

[Nattzor]

Got my tDCS today, will not use it for a while though.

Cool Nattzor. Which one did you get?

Decided to go with http://tdcs-kit.com/ due to the price.

First day of my blinded experiment, will do the tests tomorrow.

Do you guys think 7 days (1 week) or 10 days is the way to go? Will do 4 weeks or 40 days before I post the results (may talk about them a bit though).

I think either one would work. The Naeser study seemed to block it into 8 week segments...so maybe 40 days would be better. Totally up to your discretion though.

Then I'll go with 10 days (I did mean 40 days total).

[Strangelove]

Yeah...give it a little time. Remember, you can always lower the dose too. Are you lasering for 1 minute per region?

Yes, I am planing to try it for at least a month, but I am sure I ll see positive results much sooner...

I am lasering 2 minutes per spot, I may cut a little. Its not I feel bad or anything, but there are times I feel a little tired and need to sleep sooner than my regular schedule.

[lostfalco]

Yeah...give it a little time. Remember, you can always lower the dose too. Are you lasering for 1 minute per region?

Yes, I am planing to try it for at least a month, but I am sure I ll see positive results much sooner...

I am lasering 2 minutes per spot, I may cut a little. Its not I feel bad or anything, but there are times I feel a little tired and need to sleep sooner than my regular schedule.

Less is more. =) Especially in the beginning. I hope it works for you!

[Keynes]

So I've come down with something that I believe is infectious mononucleosis (having it checked out on friday). In any case I am extremely low energy, and much more tired than usual. So boosting mitochondria seems like a good idea. The issue (?) is I'm rather young, 21 y.o. Would this contraindict TULIP?

[BigPapaChakra]

So I've come down with something that I believe is infectious mononucleosis (having it checked out on friday). In any case I am extremely low energy, and much more tired than usual. So boosting mitochondria seems like a good idea. The issue (?) is I'm rather young, 21 y.o. Would this contraindict TULIP?

If it makes a difference, I'm 18 and doing TULIP, only slightly less aggressive with the supplements (to a degree). Mitochondrial optimization seems to benefit everyone, really, though I'm open to being wrong. The mitochondrion is largely what 'creates' energy for our organs, muscles, tissues, etc. If you look back earlier in the thread, Falco posted a link about exercise inducing mitochondrial changes, and that is one of the benefits of exercise. So by simply exercising, which many do, you are enhancing your mitochondrial functioning. There's nothing wrong with it. So far the only possible downside may be increased aging rates, but no one can say for sure, and again that is a BIG may. Then, as Falco has said, PQQ is an excellent antioxidant, in fact, many times, more potent than Vitamin C, and CoQ10, to my knowledge (correct me if I'm wrong) essentially acts as a donor in our body, so although we are enhancing our mitochondrial 'output', they are also increased in number, decreased in size, and more efficient.

If you want, go to the experiences thread and read my (long) review of TULIP this far - it's helped me in ways that are beyond belief, and I'm certain that it will continue to do so for many, many months.

[BigPapaChakra]

I just started taking notes on this, but so far it seems worth the watch:
Panel Discussion on Mitochondrial Health (February 2013)

It has a lot of nice visuals that will help to provide understanding on the underlying mechanisms of what the mitochondria do. Falco, so far (about 13:00 in), it relates to Life's Ratchet.

Can't wait to finish this and review the notes, there's some other videos I found that seem to have an abundance of knowledge as well, but I haven't viewed them fully, yet, so I don't want to post them just yet/ Enjoy!!

[Keynes]

Seems like I'll be jumping the bandwagon.

Found this one:
http://www.iherb.com...-Softgels/49632

"QH is the reduced (active antioxidant) state of Co-Q10, the form produced by our cells. It is significantly better absorbed than ubiquinone." Anyone tried it?

[megatron]

lostfalco, maybe you've already done this, but could you please provide some hard data if you got any? By that, I mean before and after test scores on IQ tests, cambridgesciences tests, Dual N-back or any of the sort. The reason I'm asking is, because I've kind of lost faith in people's subjective opinions when it comes to nootropics.

[lostfalco]

lostfalco, maybe you've already done this, but could you please provide some hard data if you got any? By that, I mean before and after test scores on IQ tests, cambridgesciences tests, Dual N-back or any of the sort. The reason I'm asking is, because I've kind of lost faith in people's subjective opinions when it comes to nootropics.

Hey Megatrone, what's up man? I hope this massive post doesn't sound defensive or anything...I just have a lot of info to share. =) Here goes.

Your request is a completely fair one...so it pains me to say that I don't have that sort of data on myself. As I've been saying for quite some time now, I am currently engaged in 'scientifically inspired anecdote'. I am NOT engaged in science (despite my love for the scientific method/measurability/quantification/falsification, etc.).

Reason 1: The past 2+ months (the time I've been on TULIP) have been an extremely busy 'transition' period for me...job change, move, etc.

Reason 2: I started LLLT 8+ months ago...pretty much on 1/1/2013.

Reason 3: I don't want to 'wash out', return to baseline, and start over again. The results of LLLT are cumulative and I feel too good to want to start over. I know...VERY unscientific.

Reason 4: Subjective 3rd person accounts from family and friends indicate I'm not making this up (too much, at least. ha). My parents, my siblings, my gf, my best friend, my extended group of friends, etc. have all noticed a massive difference AND they keep asking me about it. You should have seen the look on my mom's face when I told her that I shoot a laser at my brain every other night. Classic. ha

Reason 5: Other people have sent me their data since starting TULIP...it's pretty damn impressive and correlates strongly with my experience. If they want to post it, I wouldn't complain. =) However, I totally understand the need/desire for privacy. No pressure at all! For real.

Reason 6: Gwern and Nattzor are currently experimenting and quantifying their LLLT results. Stay tuned.
http://www.reddit.co...pplications_of/
http://www.longecity...750#entry611077

Reason 7: The Naeser study patients took a battery of tests while on LLLT alone and had some very impressive results. These are pretty much anecdotes, so take them as such. They were also elderly TBI patients...so ymmv. http://dspace.mit.ed...le/1721.1/58558

Reason 8: LLLT has a fairly plausible mechanism/mechanisms of action. This isn't ethereal piracetam or mysterious modafinil. Of course, it's not perfectly worked out, but it's better than almost anything else out there in the nootropic world.
Gonzalez-Lima: http://pdfcast.org/pdf/suck-it-trebek
Tiina Karu: http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/18651871 "Mitochondrial signaling is an information channel between the mitochondrial respiratory chain and the nucleus for the transduction signals regarding the functional state of the mitochondria...Experimental data about modulation of elements of mitochondrial retrograde signaling by the irradiation (mitochondrial membrane potential DeltaPsi(m), reactive oxygen species ROS, Ca(2+), NO, pH(i), fission-fusion homeostasis of mitochondria) are reviewed. The terminal enzyme of the mitochondrial respiratory chain cytochrome c oxidase is considered as the photoacceptor. Functions of cytochrome c oxidase as a signal generator as well as a signal transducer in irradiated cells are outlined."

Please note the relation between mtDNA/mitochondria and nDNA. Please check out 'mitochondrial epigenetics' on pubmed and pay close attention to the relationship between mitos and the nucleus. Most people don't realize that we have two genomes and that our cells are ancient symbiotes (though you probably know this =)).
http://en.wikipedia....tochondrial_DNA
http://en.wikipedia....ymbiotic_theory

Reason 9: Einstein and his friend Mr. Nobel are fans of 'photon-enhanced-electrons' (sorry about the BLATANT use of rhetoric...I'm just playing around. ha). http://en.wikipedia....electric_effect
http://en.wikipedia....Albert_Einstein

Reason 10: Entropy/energy/thermodynamics/cosmic evolution/etc. all point to the idea that energy/ATP/mitochondria are the primary drivers of biological systems and should be the initial focus of any enhancement regimen. They are NOT the whole story, but they are VERY fundamental. See Harvard astrophysicist Eric Chaisson's work for more info. https://www.cfa.harv...ocs/splash.html
http://en.wikipedia....i/Eric_Chaisson
http://www.amazon.co.../dp/0231135610/
http://www.amazon.co.../dp/0674009878/

Please read all the articles/books on this page for more info...if you have the time. =) http://www.longecity...1887-lostfalco/

Anyway Megatrone, I totally understand the desire for quantification and the initial skepticism when someone makes outlandish claims (like I have!). I've tried almost everything too and I know the frustration of time and money wasted. I def encourage critical thought and a reasonable approach. Check out the info and if you decide to experiment, please quantify better than I have! If you don't try it, no worries. =)

Kahneman is our friend here and I am very aware that I and my biased mammalian brain could be deceived/wrong.
http://en.wikipedia....Daniel_Kahneman
http://en.wikipedia....ognitive_biases
http://www.amazon.co.../dp/0374533555/

Edited by lostfalco, 18 September 2013 - 03:48 PM.

[Strangelove]

Yeah...give it a little time. Remember, you can always lower the dose too. Are you lasering for 1 minute per region?

Yes, I am planing to try it for at least a month, but I am sure I ll see positive results much sooner...

I am lasering 2 minutes per spot, I may cut a little. Its not I feel bad or anything, but there are times I feel a little tired and need to sleep sooner than my regular schedule.

Less is more. =) Especially in the beginning. I hope it works for you!

Thanks, I appreciate all the work you have done!

[lostfalco]

Thanks, I appreciate all the work you have done!

It's my pleasure. My mirror neurons love to fire when other people are happy/healthy/feeling amazing/optimized. =)

Let me know if I can help with any tweaks or adjustments to get this to work for you.

[IggyKoopa]

So I've been lasering (well LED'ing) for about a week now. It'll take a little longer before I can say what effects I'm getting. I had two questions though.

Has anyone else noticed any visual effects when treating around the F3 and F4 areas? Occasionally I'll notice a shimmering. Nothing concerning, just wondered if anyone else experienced something similar.

Also somewhat unrelated, but I'm interested in starting treatment for body parts that I will be working out that day. A lot of the research I've read has seemed pretty positive for increased output while lifting. My concern though is none of them mentioned an effective time frame, from the wording it sounds like they would apply treatment then immediately do the exercise. I lift at a gym, so that really isn't an option. Just asking if anyone knows if I treat the area I will be lifting with about a half hour before if it will still be effective.

Thanks

[BigPapaChakra]

So I've been lasering (well LED'ing) for about a week now. It'll take a little longer before I can say what effects I'm getting. I had two questions though.

Has anyone else noticed any visual effects when treating around the F3 and F4 areas? Occasionally I'll notice a shimmering. Nothing concerning, just wondered if anyone else experienced something similar.

Also somewhat unrelated, but I'm interested in starting treatment for body parts that I will be working out that day. A lot of the research I've read has seemed pretty positive for increased output while lifting. My concern though is none of them mentioned an effective time frame, from the wording it sounds like they would apply treatment then immediately do the exercise. I lift at a gym, so that really isn't an option. Just asking if anyone knows if I treat the area I will be lifting with about a half hour before if it will still be effective.

Thanks

I have in fact noticed the same thing sometimes when I use the LEDs at F3/4. I get temporary shimmering or some other odd things, but nothing major, and it doesn't last.

I've also been wondering about treating other areas, namely the scar on my wrist, and then as you have thought of, doing it before/during/after exercise. I was wondering if it would either enhance workout performance or enhance recovery (or both!), but I wasn't sure if I would need something other than the LEDs, maybe a laser with a set wavelength that could penetrate the tissue more deeply(?).

Would you mind posting any things you've read about red light/laser photobiomodulation and exercise? I was planning on doing some Tabata sprints today, and I would be interested in using the LEDs before hand and seeing if maybe they do something. I'd love if they drastically enhance recovery - I really want to gain a good amount of weight in the next year but I'm trying to do minimalist training after probably wrecking my body from eating a low calorie vegetarian, almost vegan diet devoid of key supplements and exercising 5x a week, lmao.

Also, I don't know how scientifically rigorous this might be, but I took the HAM-D and HAM-A questionnaires before starting TULIP and it's been something around 3 or so weeks, I plan on taking them both again next week. I could post my scores if anyone wants - I answered them honestly and put as much thought into them as possible, I needed to resolve the problems I'm working on and those tests seemed like viable options to quantify things for myself. After my supplements run out, I'll take 10-14 days off and I can take some baseline Lumosity/Duel N-Back tests or something and start back up when receiving supplements again and see how things go.

[IggyKoopa]

I've been reading a lot of the abstracts in the "cited by" section of this paper http://online.lieber...9/pho.2007.2125 also http://www.google.co...9,d.dmg&cad=rja had a good overview.

From what I've gathered the LED's that we are using should work fine for healing and pre/post workout as well. I'm just not sure as to the duration of the benefits. Laser light and LED light penetrate to about the same depths, if anything most of the studies I have found find LED's to be more effective due to increased coverage.

[lostfalco]

If you guys don't mind...I'd kind of like to emphasize something that I touched on briefly earlier. For those of you that have the time and inclination I would encourage you to watch these videos and then delve deeply into Chaisson's work. Remember, we are doing biophysics here and understanding energy flow is crucial. Enjoy! Cosmic Evolution Summary and Harvard Course Syllabus: https://www.cfa.harv...ocs/splash.html
Start at 6:05 for the first video. =)
http://youtu.be/jbXzmPWCMIM?t=6m5s
http://youtu.be/zkAhFhYu_o8
http://youtu.be/kGgvfqx29Lg

Edited by lostfalco, 18 September 2013 - 08:23 PM.

[lostfalco]

Books: http://www.amazon.co.../dp/0231135610/
http://www.amazon.co.../dp/0674009878/

[megatron]

Nice post lostfalco. The main cognitive functions I want to improve first are memory (both working memory and long term) and logical reasoning. From tests such as those I mentioned, it's very easy for everyone to see if any serious improvements have been made. Therefore I'm hoping someone will post their test scores.

[Keynes]

Nice post lostfalco. The main cognitive functions I want to improve first are memory (both working memory and long term) and logical reasoning. From tests such as those I mentioned, it's very easy for everyone to see if any serious improvements have been made. Therefore I'm hoping someone will post their test scores.

I can try to baseline myself and post my results here out of interest (suppose I'll have enough time before everything arrives). Have never done that before so if you have any tips/guides that would be nice (striving to do it as scientifically as I can).

So basically I'll:
hit my plateau in dnb before starting and do cambridge brain sciences
I also have an advanced gps running watch so I'll notice any difference in stamina, and I'll register my weight lifting as well.

Anything else I should do? I've already done many IQ tests that are online, but I'll try and find another one to save for later.

[AscendantMind]

Keynes, what IQ tests have you used so far? I know of a couple (Raven's Progressive Matrices-based) that are pretty accurate in terms of correlation with the standard IQ tests administered by psychologists. I can recommend these, or if you know of more than ones I've found, perhaps you could recommend some.

[Keynes]

Keynes, what IQ tests have you used so far? I know of a couple (Raven's Progressive Matrices-based) that are pretty accurate in terms of correlation with the standard IQ tests administered by psychologists. I can recommend these, or if you know of more than ones I've found, perhaps you could recommend some.

I have done a supervised FRT-A test, and the following:

http://mensa.se/bli-medlem/provtest/
http://mensa.dk/iqtest/
http://www.mensa.no/olavtesten/no/

+ some more (I'll try and find them some other time). I got 135 + on the supervised test, and I usually get 131-135 or more on these other ones depending on how high they measure. My memory is truly awful though and that's a major thing I'd like to improve.


Just did the Cambridge brain sciences IQ challenge for the first time and I landed a staggering 78th percentile hehe (I should get to bed).

[BigPapaChakra]

Not to take away from the current topic (TULIP), but, could anyone explain what 'Radioelectric Asymmetric Brain Stimulation' is? I've looked and can't find anything definitive, and I feel as though it's definitely different than tDCS.

Here are the studies I can find: http://www.dovepress.com/search.php
Some specific ones: http://www.dovepress...article_id=8702 Social anxiety disorder: radio electric asymmetric conveyor brain stimulation versus sertraline


And: http://www.dovepress...article_id=7959
Brain activity modification produced by a single radioelectric asymmetric brain stimulation pulse: a new tool for neuropsychiatric treatments. Preliminary fMRI study

[Psionic]

Does it all means we are getting closer to Ra's Sarcophagus using infrared lights to regenerate our fragile bodies? :-)

[mettmett]

Does it all means we are getting closer to Ra's Sarcophagus using infrared lights to regenerate our fragile bodies? :-)

sign me up!

[lostfalco]

I sleep in this. http://joannavargas....herapy-facials/


Jk (for now. ha)

Edited by lostfalco, 19 September 2013 - 12:16 PM.

[AscendantMind]

Something like that wouldn't be too difficult to build, given enough LEDs. Interesting that the bed also incorporates 98% pure oxygen. All you'd need now is for it to vibrate like the BP Vibration Plate, and you'd have the ultimate brain/body recharge device.

I do find the "reduces pores" claim on the site somewhat worrying, though. One needs one's pores.

I wonder what the light density for an infrared sauna would be--and if it would even approach that of the LEDs.

Edited by AscendantMind, 19 September 2013 - 12:56 PM.

[lourdaud]

I sleep in this. http://joannavargas....herapy-facials/


Jk (for now. ha)

I so so want this. Anyone able to come up with any cheaper more feasible ideas for getting continuous strong red light during the night??

[Psionic]

2304x850nm diodes (they use same amount of IR and red) means with one of the cheapest source on aliexpress $70 (0.03$/piece*2304). So initial costs are lower than 20 minutes of therapy in this bed. Looks like they are also making serious money if its popular. I would like to see more reports from people using it if it help with muscle regeneration and other things..

[lostfalco]

I sleep in this. http://joannavargas....herapy-facials/


Jk (for now. ha)

I so so want this. Anyone able to come up with any cheaper more feasible ideas for getting continuous strong red light during the night??

I'm working on it. =) Give me a few months.

[AscendantMind]

You could set up a few of these over your bed: LED Grow Lights

Not sure if they're actually infrared, though.

The best option would probably be to buy a few thousand LEDs yourself, and then wire them to a power source. Not sure how this could be integrated into a mattress, though--or if you'd want to. After all, apparently only a few minutes are needed for the brain LEDs.

Edited by AscendantMind, 19 September 2013 - 02:39 PM.

[lostfalco]

2304x850nm diodes (they use same amount of IR and red) means with one of the cheapest source on aliexpress $70 (0.03$/piece*2304). So initial costs are lower than 20 minutes of therapy in this bed. Looks like they are also making serious money if its popular. I would like to see more reports from people using it if it help with muscle regeneration and other things..

I've used the Tendlite between sets while lifting at home (remember, I've been at this for 8+ months)...I NEVER get sore no matter how hard I lift. Let me look back through my notes/research for all the studies. There are A LOT! You can pubmed it too if you like. =)