I feel a little guilty about using “experiment” in the title, since I value science so much. This brings me to a problem: How do I really know if it makes a difference?

I thought about trying to solve the same kind of puzzle each day, and measuring the time it takes me. The flaw in that is that I learn. I’d be practicing continually, and it would be astonishing if I didn’t get better at it.

It is important to quantify any changes piracetam evokes. The drug is not free. How worthwhile is it, for an unquantifiable gain? Is 40 cents per pill an acceptable cost to pay, when you can’t know what you’re getting in exchange?

For me, instead of taking tests, I’m going to try to behave as normally as I can, and instead of looking for improvement in amount that I am able to do, I will watch how easy it is for me to do my normal work. I think I will notice if my normal work-flow becomes less of a burden. This doesn’t really count as a real measurement because of two reasons: It’s subjective. My work is not limited by another means; my brain is already the rate-limiter so it’s entirely possible that I feel the same amount of stress and drain, even though my throughput changes.

If that is the case, that I don’t feel better about my work, then I consider piracetam a failure. I do value producing more, but what I’m really after is the “hack mode” feeling that my work becomes easier.

So, I’m totally cheating on the quantification question by saying “it will have to make me feel like I’m working easier.” I know. Bad scientist, bad!

Day 2 was pretty normal. I did have a breakthrough in something, but that is normal. I just started a new job last week, and there are plenty of roadblocks that only seem harder because I’m still finding my footing.

I did spend nearly 12 hours at my desk that day. My wife was out of town for the afternoon and evening, and I didn’t feel like stopping until she returned home. So, day 2 was a little weird, and I want to be careful, so my verdict is that it was too strange to be evaluated.

Day 3 is starting out normal. It’s the weekend and I’ll have a baby in my lap all day, so I won’t work today. So far, I do not feel a change.

Sleep is normal. Diet is unchanged. Emotional states are about average.

30 May 2009, 07:53 #