What Are Nootropics?

1. What are nootropics?

2. 
   

Short answer:

Nootropics are supplements that can improve the cognitive and physical abilities of healthy individuals, such as improving memory, learning and concentration, as well as boosting energy and increasing motivation. Nootropics are not medicines: medicines bring you back to health when you’re sick, whilst nootropics help you improve when you’re healthy.

There are many different types of Nootropics available in a wide variety of forms, all with different benefits, but people who take Nootropics all have one main goal in mind; to upgrade the experience of their life by becoming healthier, happier or more productive by taking advantage of the benefits Nootropics can offer.

b. Long answer:

The term ‘nootropics’ is relatively recent, the name having been coined in 1972 by Romanian chemist Corneliu Giurgea to describe compounds that could ‘turn the mind’ (from Greek, nous trepein). Giurgea considered that for any substance to be called a nootropic, it must:

1. enhance memory and learning ability,

2. help the brain function under disruptive conditions,

3. protect the brain from harmful chemical damage,

4. improve neuronal firing mechanisms, and

5. lack any sedative, stimulant or toxic effects.

Since 1972, the generally accepted definition of Nootropics has widened to include those that provide either a sedative or stimulant effect, (for example melatonin, to improve sleep, or modafinil, to increase wakefulness). While there is no universally accepted set of formal criteria for what qualifies as a nootropic, the majority of Dr. Giurgea’s original definition still holds.

In common online usage, the term ‘nootropic’ is applied to any substance that can provide safe cognitive benefits to users, where ‘benefits’ has a very broad meaning.

For example, is often used as a socializing and extroversion booster, whilst is used for its mood-brightening and anti-stress effects.

In general, a substance can be called a nootropic if it grants the user more control over their neurochemistry and the resulting behavioral and experiential outcomes. Within this definition, a supplement like Melatoninalso qualifies, given its ability to allow a user to intelligently regulate their sleep cycle.

Ideologically, nootropics are celebrated for their ability to allow individuals to gain some mastery over their brain chemistry and the resulting mental states. For the history of the human species, brain chemistry has been largely inaccessible to targeted improvement, leaving us the prisoners of our biology. Nootropics are humanity’s first tentative forays into taking control of our mood and intellect at the chemical level.

2. Why people use nootropics

Nootropics allow users greater control over their states, moods, and cognitive abilities. In the same way as the caffeine in a morning coffee can wake you up and make you ready for the day, nootropics can be used for a range of functional benefits.

a. Productivity and study

Motivation and concentration can often be fleeting and fickle, and whilst nootropics can never replace a disciplined workflow, they can give you a substantial boost towards getting your critical tasks done, and getting them done well.

For long periods of concentrated cognitive effort, such as study, revision, essays, writing introductions to nootropics, and other time-consuming and mentally demanding tasks, longer lasting nootropics such as and are ideal.

3. Understanding the basics

The goal of taking nootropics is simply to obtain specific desirable cognitive effects. It’s important to know that how (and how often) you take nootropics will affect your outcomes.