Learning path8 compounds · ~18 min

Cognition stack

Evidence-first nootropics. Creatine, omega-3, caffeine + L-theanine, alpha-GPC. Racetam + peptide tier last.

  1. 01creatine — entry pending
  2. 02omega-3-fish-oil — entry pending
  3. 03L-Theanine
    t½ 1-2 hours (plasma), functional effects persist 4-6 hours

    Non-proteinogenic amino acid structurally analogous to glutamate. Crosses the blood-brain barrier via the leucine-preferring transport system. Increases alpha-wave activity (8-13 H…

  4. 04Alpha-GPC (L-Alpha Glycerylphosphorylcholine)
    t½ 4-6 hours

    Bioavailable choline source that crosses the blood-brain barrier efficiently. Serves as a direct precursor to acetylcholine synthesis via choline acetyltransferase. Also acts as a …

  5. 05Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus)
    t½ Not well characterized (bioactive terpenoids)

    Medicinal mushroom containing hericenones (fruiting body) and erinacines (mycelium), which cross the blood-brain barrier and stimulate nerve growth factor (NGF) synthesis via the T…

  6. 06Bacopa Monnieri
    t½ 2-6 hours (bacosides)

    Steroidal saponins called bacosides (primarily bacoside A and B) modulate serotonergic, dopaminergic, and cholinergic neurotransmission simultaneously. Upregulates tryptophan hydro…

  7. 07Rhodiola Rosea
    t½ 6-8 hours (salidroside)

    Adaptogenic herb whose primary bioactive, salidroside, inhibits monoamine oxidase (MAO-A and MAO-B), increasing synaptic availability of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. Mo…

  8. 08Modafinil
    t½ 15 hours

    Weak dopamine transporter (DAT) inhibitor that elevates synaptic dopamine, with secondary activation of orexin/hypocretin neurons in the lateral hypothalamus. Also modulates norepi…

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