Quote (Balla @ 15 Dec 2014 21:55)
I wouldn't say the ashwagandha is for a cognitive stack by any means. It's really only effective at mitigating anxiety.. unless you have debilitating anxiety and that attenuates your cognitive function, it's not gonna do much
Pretty much any racetam really isn't effective btw. I'm pretty heavy into the nootropic field, at least in terms of what they are, MOAs, etc.. I can help you out in this area, but racetams really aren't the way.
On one hand, they're very subtle, generally don't work to any bit of effectiveness in anyone average, forget above average/gifted+, besides perhaps attention. Second, a lot of the positive benefits won't begin showing until you use it more prolonged..
And lastly there, using them only on test days will literally be a waste. Memory retrieval is made more efficacious via a more robust synapse through LTP. Racetams will generally act to increase ACh turnover and/or positively modulate the AMPARs to augment LTP. But there's no way either of those mechanisms could help with the retrieval process of already stored/formed memories.
If you have a nootropic that you recommned for this let me know. Oxiracetam has just seemed like something worth trying out. As for ashwagandha, that's all I need it for. Anxiolytics help out with cognitive function a lot, at least for me. Being able to have a full thought process instead of feeling like my mind is jumping around between thought processes has helped a lot with learning. The best part of ashwagandha, for me anyways, has been how motivated I seem to feel every day when I take it.