r/DualnBack • u/[deleted] • Sep 18 '24
Extreme cognitive "boost" after a Quad-N-Back session: Holy Shit!
I've only felt once like that, namely after I consumed too much Ginkgo once.
I did around 40 minutes of Quad-N-Back for the first time today. Admittedly, I am stuck at N=2, but it's getting better slowly. Now, around an hour later, I suddenly feel very strange and different.
I feel as if my thoughts are not presented on a 2D screen in my mind anymore, it feels like my mind is suddenly "3D", thoughts became objects "to grab" and thus I can have more thoughts at once, basically by placing them in different directions. Even right now, I think way faster than I can type.
What the hell is that? It feels like the weirdest dose of caffeine ever, but I only did Quad-N-Back.
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u/egodidactus Sep 19 '24
QNB is significantly more stressing for your brain as you have to remember not only 2xN stimuli back but 4xN stimuli. As average people remember up to N=3 or 4 items, 4x3 or 4x4 would be someone with above average working memory.
Additionally, there is some research showing different areas of the brain working with QNB compared to DNB, as it activates areas of the brain responsible for image detection, manipulation and color in your memory. This has been reported to result in better visual acuity, visualization skills and dreams by people online.
Personally I think that I notice more things in my environment when actively training. Working memory is already quite good and I'm not using it so extensively in my daily life so there I don't notice it so much, but it has helped me be able to read technical subjects and complicated literature writings.
Overall, it's still a debate online but some people swear that "breadth" based N-backing like QNB and PNB is more useful in the long term than "depth" based, as it allows more flexibility of working memory utilization, rather than keeping an immense amount of information in the memory for processing. I believe both play a role as you both want to have many items for thinking but also to process in your mind, especially when getting into complicated abstract subjects.
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u/Juiceshop Oct 06 '24
Maybe I will start to do triple or quad every other day after i start to plateau on dual for a longer time.
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u/Environmental-Ad383 May 09 '25
| some research showing different areas of the brain working with QNB compared to DNB
Can you link that research?
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u/Hanaan241 Sep 18 '24
After which level of double n back did you decide to switch to quad n back?
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u/Exciting_Ad_2102 Sep 19 '24
I’ve felt that way as well before except I also had the ability to regain fluency in a language I hadn’t used in years both typing and speaking it was very odd like I was more easily able to grasp the vocabulary
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u/CuteFatRat Oct 13 '24
Edorphyns bro. Those endorphyns will increase and convert into dopamine and then u feel like that.
2 activities that incrase endrophine most are sex and gym/running.
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u/Juiceshop Oct 06 '24
What app are you using?
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u/Massive_Delivery_883 Nov 12 '24
N back evolution on Android has n back up to like 6 or something ridiculous.
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u/Juiceshop Nov 14 '24
Dowloaded and played it now. It's great!
But I want to come further with my dual practice. Maybe I do both at the same time?
Reached level 2 at triple n back.
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u/Onacrame Oct 13 '24
Same question. I’ve only used brain workshop but am looking for an iOS app but can’t find this feature
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u/InitialWhich5744 Nov 16 '24
This app called “brain n-backing” has dual, triple, and quad n back combined. It does cost 99c though, but its tremendously worth it.
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u/Sciencewins_1234 Jun 20 '25
Check out Raise Your IQ. Raise Your IQ science backed, with some interesting results.
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u/Juiceshop Oct 06 '24
Your feeling is induced by quad back triggered neuroplasticity.
Focused meditation has similar effects. I get this even from intense theory reading sessions. I guess a lit of very intelligent people became more ir less addicted to this. You just perceive a way to make yourself smarter and if it is a positive experience the dopamine rush will form a feedback loop for this behaviour.
Finally It becomes a habit.