The Lawnmower Man was based on a real drug, piracetam (aka Nootropil), currently available by prescription in Europe, and through mail order in the States (http://www.nubrain.com). It does indeed make the average joe noticeably smarter, not to mention the average lab rat. It is currently prescribed for conditions including Alzheimer's, epilepsy, and dyslexia. In fact, piracetam is the oldest nootropic, with newer molecules showing even more pronounced effects.
One of the more interesting mechanisms of piracetam is that it increases inter-hemispheric communication. Many believe that, by utilizing the left and right brain hemispheres in a more symmetrical fashion, creativity is increased. Also of note is its non-toxicity and sparcity of side effects (bowel irritation is the most pronounced at high dosages).
From personal experience, I have found that Piracetam dramatically increases my auditory acuity, although the effect is temporary and usually requires an above average dose. The effect is very similar to LSD, in that many distinct sounds are percieved simultaneously, in vivid detail.
Another interesting nootropic is centrophenoxine (lucidril), which acts as a very strong anti-oxidant through the action of DMAE, as well as having neurotropic effects through plant, yes plant, hormones known as auxins. Theoretically, at least, these auxins, once in the neurons, function to increase axonic and dendritic growth.
DMAE acts simultaneously in the cell membrane to remove "garbage" from the neuron. What is this garbage? The waste products both of aging and of chemical damage (read drug use).
Hope this wasn't too technical, and I've been taking a code vacation for a couple of months, so I don't know how nootropics affect code skills. And of course, Ginkgo is a cheap alternative.
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The Lawnmower Man was based on a real drug, piracetam (aka Nootropil), currently available by prescription in Europe, and through mail order in the States (http://www.nubrain.com). It does indeed make the average joe noticeably smarter, not to mention the average lab rat. It is currently prescribed for conditions including Alzheimer's, epilepsy, and dyslexia. In fact, piracetam is the oldest nootropic, with newer molecules showing even more pronounced effects. One of the more interesting mechanisms of piracetam is that it increases inter-hemispheric communication. Many believe that, by utilizing the left and right brain hemispheres in a more symmetrical fashion, creativity is increased. Also of note is its non-toxicity and sparcity of side effects (bowel irritation is the most pronounced at high dosages). From personal experience, I have found that Piracetam dramatically increases my auditory acuity, although the effect is temporary and usually requires an above average dose. The effect is very similar to LSD, in that many distinct sounds are percieved simultaneously, in vivid detail. Another interesting nootropic is centrophenoxine (lucidril), which acts as a very strong anti-oxidant through the action of DMAE, as well as having neurotropic effects through plant, yes plant, hormones known as auxins. Theoretically, at least, these auxins, once in the neurons, function to increase axonic and dendritic growth. DMAE acts simultaneously in the cell membrane to remove "garbage" from the neuron. What is this garbage? The waste products both of aging and of chemical damage (read drug use). Hope this wasn't too technical, and I've been taking a code vacation for a couple of months, so I don't know how nootropics affect code skills. And of course, Ginkgo is a cheap alternative.