Here is an interesting Nature journal article about cognitive-enhancing drugs and their current legal status.
The authors argue that even though there are risks involved, the overall benefits for the individuals and the society are greater, and thus use of cognition-enhancing drugs (for example Ritalin, Modafinil, Adderall, Aricept) should be allowed for use by healthy people [...]
I got mail from Emotiv pointing out that the Discovery Channel recently ran a feature about building a mind-controlled car, using the Emotiv EPOC gadget for brain-computer interface. If you are in the USA, have a look.
I would appreciate if you could post some comments, as I was unable to view the video - I’m [...]
Here are two mnemonic techniques which help memorize (sequential) lists. In principle, these two techniques are similar to the Loci system but really need the lists to be in sequence, whereas the Loci method is more “random access”.
Examples of sequential lists are shopping lists, task lists, equations, layers in a technical architecture (e.g. OSI), and [...]
Mindmapping is a technique where one iteratively draws a diagram with information, and links those pieces of information together with connections. It’s a very powerful technique which you can use when trying to tackle complex problem areas, such as new ideas, studying of new subjects, analysis of problems, organizing, writing, decision-making, etc.
This is a quick-and-dirty [...]
The consumer-grade EEG device from OCZ, the “Neural Impulse Actuator”, has started shipping. It can be bought (although stock seems empty) at least from play.com, with the price being 100 UK pounds (I will not play along with silly 99.99 prices).
A review can be read at Overclock3D.net.
No word yet about support for non-Windows platforms.
An article about enhancing cognition (with the aid of chemicals) in the Economist.
In order to make coloured noise (white, brown, pink) you do not have to spend even $35 to get a specialized commercial product. You can just download Audacity, an open source audio editor, and generate the noise files with that.
The activity happening within the brain is electrochemical by its nature. When this activity is measured, it can be broken down into five major frequency bands: delta, theta, alpha, beta and gamma. Roughly speaking, these bands correspond to certain biological states.
For example, delta waves are prominent in slow wave sleep (SWS, stage 4 of NREM). [...]
Coming soon: cheap and productized consumer-grade brain-computer interfaces (BCI). These “everyman’s EEG devices” are primarily sold as game controllers, but surely they could also be made into a tool for research and experimentation at home.
To experiment with the Ganzfeld effect, you need to create a suitable Ganzfeld (or more if you aim for multi-modal Ganzfeld). One way to make a visual Ganzfeld are so-called “Ganzfeld goggles” and a bright light.
To build Ganzfeld goggles, you need ping-pong balls, some sandpaper, a sharp knife (for example those which are used to [...]
