^The attack dose is definitely helps. My first experience with nootropics was an attack dose of Piracetam and a single tablet of hydergine. It was quite noticeable, I was really smart
After the attack dose I could notice the effect from a single pill. I feel the effects as a slight tingling in the frontal lobes, which is the increased alpha wave production that piracetam has been shown to cause in that region of the brain.
In most circumstances increased alpha wave production and increased activity in the frontal lobes are perceived as beneficial.
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Lately my nootropic of choice is EEG biofeedback. It also can be a bit like a drug. There is a nice feeling of inner peace when both sides of the brain are at the same frequency (cross-hemispheric coherence).
By increasing alpha wave production there is an altered state a bit like cannabis (which increases alpha wave production, which is why it is used by creative types). Alpha could also be correlated with the subconscious mind. I'm sure most people are familiar with the "alpha state" or "alpha thinking".
Increasing theta waves can facilitate trance and visionary states and can be felt in the body as a buzzing or tingling sensation. Things also brighten up internally. Flashes of insight are also associated with theta waves. A pulse of theta waves can be seen as blue light in the field of vision. This is the meaning of the expression "it came to me out of the blue". Theta could be correlated with the collective unconscious (the wavelength is longer so it permeates further, think of bass in a car etc). Childhood is spent in the theta state, as the theta waves go so does the 'magic'.
Delta is largely ignored for most practical applications and is usually only present in significant amounts during deep sleep in the 'normal' individual. States of oneness with the Universe, Samadhi etc involve delta waves, but there must be a bridge between the theta region to the alpha region for there to be any consciousness of the state. People with with high delta in the waking state often have unique abilities. One of the leading neurofeedback researchers Dr. James Hardt, talks about people with high waking delta being able to influence others and "change reality" (his words not mine). As you can probably guess by now, delta could also be correlated with Universal consciousness. Coincidentally, this is the state we are born in, a babies brainwaves are mostly between 0-2cps.
Increasing gamma-waves (the hottest new thing in EEG research) can give a state of awareness a bit like psychedelics, there is a vision change where everything starts look gold and pulses of energy can be seen (in my experience). Frontal lobe gamma is correlated with states of 'enlightenment' and studies with Tibetan monks showed that the higher a students baseline and meditative gamma, the more advanced they were considered by the teacher. It makes sense that higher frequencies would be associated with higher states of consciousness. There isn't any research on psychedelics and gamma waves that I'm aware of, but I think psychedelics also increase gamma.
Beta waves are where we spend most of our adult waking life. This is the alert state that our caffeinated world revolves around. Training to increase these frequencies can make one more alert, but training to decrease them is much more interesting. For example, a tone plays when your beta is below a certain threshold and stops when your beta increases, one thing you notice quickly is that when your internal dialogue is active, so is your beta. As soon as you say something in your head the tone goes off and you can train yourself to quiet your mind more quickly than without using biofeedback.
Anyway, thats a brief overview of EEG biofeedback. Its pretty exciting and there are tons of possibilities. I know its not a nootropic drug, but the end goal is the same, one is through chemical means, the other electrical means. I think those with an interest in nootropics would also be interested in biofeedback, so hopefully some of you find this post helpful, it was fun to write.
