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There are many different types of Nootropic supplements available. Additionally, there are different categories and ‘families’ of Nootropics, such as Racetams and Ampakines.
Each of these specific supplements work in slightly different ways and uses different mechanisms of action. In many cases, these mechanisms are still not fully understood, although research continues to enhance what we do know.
Given all this, there is not one decisive answer to the question “How Do Nootropics Work?” but instead many different answers. There are, however, some basic ways in which Nootropics do tend to modulate and influence a number of different systems and chemicals within the brain.
The most common of these relate to the Cholinergic, Glutamatergic, Dopamine, and Serotonin systems. Below is a brief introduction to the science behind how Nootropics work.
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Introduction To Neurotransmitters and Synaptic Receptors:
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Neurotransmitters are chemical that transmit nerve signals, or impulses, from one nerve cell (neuron) to another.
They are essentially chemical messengers which take two different forms: excitatory and inhibitory.
Excitatory neurotransmitters propagate a message while inhibitory ones prevent a message from being received or continuing along its pathway.
According to the messages received, these neurotransmitters then bind with special post-synaptic receptors. These are usually just called receptors or receptor sites on nerve synapses.
Together, the neurotransmitters and the receptors make up a ‘system.’ There are a vast multitude of these neuronal systems within the brain.
What a Nootropic supplement does, in essence, is to specifically target and increase the efficiency of those systems that relate to cognitive function (among other functions). Several of these key targeted systems are discussed below.
Acetylcholine and The Cholinergic System:
Acetylcholine is really the driving force behind the Cholinergic system. This is an abundant neurotransmitter within the brain that acts in a number of different cognitive functions.
For example, Acetylcholine plays important roles in learning, memory, focus, decision-making, and even sensory perception. Within this system there are two main types of receptors, nicotinic and muscarinic. The first of these is actually named after nicotine (it is also influenced by nicotine, although the effects do not last long).
Acetylcholine usually comes from choline sources supplied by a well-balanced diet. Then again, it is also known that the majority of people are deficient in choline, which is a good reason to supplement your diet with a high quality source.
As a precursor to the chemical Acetylcholine, it is important to use a choline supplement such as Alpha GPC and Citicholine. These sources are much more effective at converting into Acetylcholine.
While some of the acetylcholine supplements can have a positive effect on cognitive enhancement, using these compounds alone is not typically enough to lead to noticeable Nootropic results.
To get around this problem many times Acetylcholine precursors are often combined with agonists to induce a synergistic effect.
Racetams (Piracetam, Aniracetam, Oxiracetam, Pramiracetam and others) are considered to be Acetylcholine agonists, working to increase the synapses without producing additional Acetylcholine.
Racetams stacked together with a precursor choline supplement can give you very powerful synergistic nootropic effects; one increases the synapses and the other increases the level of the neurotransmitter. Nootropics that work in this way are beneficial for synaptic plasticity and can make it easier for you to grasp new concepts and remember details that you have just learned.
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Glutamate and the Glutamatergic System:
Glutamate is the most plentiful neurotransmitter within the brain and has a very important role in maintaining brain health as well as in the faculties of learning and memory. This chemical is also converted into GABA – another neurotransmitter which has a positive effect on mood.
Proper brain function is dependent on adequate levels of glutamate in the brain – not too little and not too much. In fact, excess levels of Glutamate which occur outside of cells may also be an indication of receptor malfunctions.
This is considered a factor in the development of neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ADHD, and potentially autism.
While there are a number of different types of Glutamate receptor sites, NMDA and AMPA are considered to be nootropic in nature. Stimulation of these receptors is one of the major goals in almost every type of Nootropic supplement.
Both Racetams and Ampakines (like sunifiram, noopept and aniracetam) are known to stimulate these types of receptor sites, although certain supplements have more of an affinity to activate one or the other. Increasing Glutamate uptake can lead to improved memory and learning as well as give you more energy and help you focus.
Dopamine and Serotonin:
Dopamine and Serotonin are famous for being the neurotransmitters involved in feelings of pleasure and happiness.
While neither of the Dopamine or Serotonin systems are a primary target of Nootropics, they are effected to some degree and can contribute to the overall results and effectiveness of Nootropic supplementation.
Both of these chemicals and their related systems are very important to mood, motivation, reward, memory, and focus.
There are some significant differences between the Dopamine and Serotonin systems. Dopamine related effects are very powerful, but can be addictive.
Therefore, it is best to avoid using such supplements for everyday use. This is why smart drugs like Adderall and Ritalin can become addictive: they are amphetamine compounds which directly stimulate Dopamine.
Those Nootropics which influence or modulate Serotonin usually have mood boosting effects as opposed to primary cognitive related benefits.
Nootropic Benefits
Understanding how Nootropics effect these five neurotransmitters – Acetylcholine, Glutamate, GABA, Dopamine and Serotonin – provides a big part of the picture of how nootropics work. These neurotransmitters are the chemicals that your brain uses to communicate with itself and are ultimately responsible for much of your cognitive activity.
How you learn, remember, process, calculate, reason, imagine, create, focus, feel, perceive, and move is largely determined by very basic brain functions at the synapses between neurons. By optimizing these connections, nootropics work to improve our cognitive abilities at this foundational level.
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Article last updated on: February 3rd, 2018 by Nootriment