Cabbanis Lifestyle
Bluelighter
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- Jan 1, 2021
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Examining the Intersection of Psychedelics and Chess Performance for Cognitive Enhancement and Personal Growth
___Hello people!
I am recruiting volunteers for the first stage of this research. In this phase, we are going to test the questionnaire and design a scale that is relevant for both psychedelic experience and chess performance. In order to do this, the volunteer consumes a psychedelic substance and plays a chess tournament for a minimum of one hour, or they can play a minimum of 10 games during the duration of the substance's effect. The time stamps are relevant, of course.
Before I continue explaining the scales, and methods we are going to explore in this study, I'd like to give an overview of the study from scratch. If you are interested in participating, please leave a comment or reach out to me.
___
Studies have already verified the efficacy of some substances as a cognitive enhancers for games such as chess. And chess has shown promise as a cognitive performance enhancer in itself. Now with the renewed energy that the relevant research groups around the world have been looking at psychedelics as a relatively safe and effective method of dealing with psychological problems that traditional methods have failed to address, there is an urgent need of coming up with reliable methods of helping people who are inexperienced with psychedelics to get a grip on the mystical experience as swiftly as possible.
At the same time, translating the emotions, insights, ephiphanies, and lessons of the psychedelic journey into normal everyday life is key to maximizing the benefits of a meaningful psychedelic experience in a long-lasting way. By observing how the psychedelic experience hinders or boosts chess performance we can have valuable insight into how we can apply the psychedelic experience in real life and transform it into tangible results while minimizing the potential adverse effects.
The idea scenario - In a perfect world, I imagine the study design like this:
A two-part study (a) and (b):
(a)>
a) Randomly assign participants to two groups: one group receiving a psychedelic substance and the other receiving a placebo or no substance. Then, evaluate chess performance measures, such as rating changes, move quality, and decision-making accuracy, before and after the psychedelic experience.
Control for variables: Consider factors like the participants; baseline chess skills, experience with psychedelics, dosage, and set and setting of the psychedelic experience.
- Experimental vs. Control: Randomly assign participants to two groups: one group receiving a psychedelic substance and the other receiving a placebo or no substance.
- Pre- and Post-Assessments: Evaluate chess performance measures, such as rating changes, move quality, and decision-making accuracy, before and after the psychedelic experience.
- Control for Variables: Consider factors like participants' baseline chess skills, experience with psychedelics, dosage, and set and setting of the psychedelic experience.
- Objective Chess Performance Metrics:
- Tournament Performance: Measure participants' performance in official chess tournaments pre- and post-psychedelic experience to assess changes in skill level.
- Chess Rating Changes: Analyze any significant differences in participants' chess rating before and after the psychedelic experience, indicating improvements or declines in performance.
- Move Quality Analysis: Use computer analysis or expert evaluation to assess the quality of participants' moves during the psychedelic experience compared to their baseline performance.
- Subjective Experience Reports:
- Self-Assessment: Have participants rate their perceived improvements or changes in chess performance during and after the psychedelic experience, using a Likert scale or open-ended questions.
- Qualitative Interviews: Conduct in-depth interviews to capture participants' subjective experiences, insights, and any perceived impact on chess play, strategy, creativity, or problem-solving abilities.
(B)>
b) Randomly assign participants to two groups, one group playing chess during the psychedelic experience and the other group not playing chess. Ideally double-blind.
- Study Procedure:
- Pre-Session Assessments: Administer baseline questionnaires to measure participants' chess skills, cognitive abilities, emotional state, and familiarity with psychedelics.
- Psychedelic Session: Participants consume the psychedelic substance in a controlled and safe environment.
- Experimental Group: Participants play chess during the psychedelic experience.
- Control Group: Participants engage in a neutral activity or receive a placebo.
- Post-Session Assessments: Administer questionnaires to measure the impact of chess on navigating the psychedelic experience.
The study's findings can contribute to a better understanding of the synergistic effects of combining cognitive activities and altered states of consciousness, potentially opening avenues for further research and innovative interventions in various fields beyond chess and psychedelics
- Potential Utility:
- Therapeutic Applications: Understand how chess, as an engaging and cognitive activity, can be utilized as an adjunctive tool in psychedelic-assisted therapy for conditions such as depression, anxiety, or addiction.
- Psychedelic Experience Optimization: Identify strategies to enhance and guide psychedelic experiences, using chess as a means of promoting positive and meaningful journeys.
- Cognitive Enhancement: Explore the potential of combining chess and psychedelics to enhance cognitive abilities, problem-solving skills, and creativity in various domains.
- Recreational and Personal Development: Offer insights for individuals interested in exploring the combination of psychedelics and chess as a recreational or personal growth practice.
- Ideas and Relevant Conclusions:
- Impact on Cognitive Processes: Investigate whether playing chess during a psychedelic experience enhances cognitive flexibility, problem-solving abilities, and creative thinking.
- Emotional Regulation: Examine whether chess helps in regulating emotions, reducing anxiety or fear, and promoting a sense of calmness during the psychedelic journey.
- Sense of Control and Grounding: Explore whether chess provides a sense of structure, control, and grounding, helping individuals navigate the potentially disorienting aspects of the psychedelic experience.
- Connection to the Present Moment: Assess whether chess aids in maintaining presence and connectedness to the immediate experience, promoting a mindful state during the psychedelic journey.
- Personal Growth and Integration: Investigate whether engaging in chess during a psychedelic experience contributes to personal growth, self-reflection, and the integration of insights gained during the journey.
However... This is not a perfect world.
Since I have no degree, no funding no nothing, I am conducting this study independently. Right now I am developing a scale that is both relevant and short and simple enough that the volunteer can easily fill out the questionnaire during the psychedelic experience and even between chess games. I have analyzed the most popular scales and questionnaires for measuring chess performance, psychedelic effects and mystical experiences, etc... Most likely I need to work more on a questionnaire that works, but for now, I have this:Here's a sample 10-item questionnaire to measure the impact of chess on helping participants navigate the psychedelic landscape:
Sample of 25 Questions about Chess and Psychedelics:
Now that I have these two questionnaires I am in the stage of going over them with volunteers and calibrating them for the objectives of the study. I am doing all of this alone, so if anyone is interested in helping out, I would appreciate it a lot!
Thanks for reading this far, and have a great day! If you wish to contact me readily, please join my Discord channel: https://discord.gg/PCFZKSUgZe or via Telegram: https://t.me/perrella
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Reference:
Methylphenidate, modafinil, and caffeine for cognitive enhancement in chess: A double-blind, randomized controlled trial -
Methylphenidate, modafinil, and caffeine for cognitive enhancement in chess: A double-blind, randomised controlled trial - PubMed
Stimulants and caffeine have been proposed for cognitive enhancement by healthy subjects. This study investigated whether performance in chess - a competitive mind game requiring highly complex cognitive skills - can be enhanced by methylphenidate, modafinil or caffeine. In a phase IV...
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
On the effect of chess training on scholastic achievement -
On the effect of chess training on scholastic achievement
On the Effect of Chess Training on Scholastic AchievementWilliam M. BartUniversity of MinnesotaAuthor Note William M. Bart, Department of Educational Psychology, University of Minnesota. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to William M. Bart, Educational Psychology...
