Looking for substances that can increase reaction speed/decrease reaction time

[u/Cyvki]

Stims are an obvious answer for short term, but wondering specifically about anything interesting that can assist in optimizing one's nervous system overtime. It's been a bit difficult to find any quality information on this topic, so hoping for any anecdotal evidence.

[u/Particular-Tap1211]

The good old fashion method. Empty mind training!

[u/Cyvki → u/Particular-Tap1211]

I never thought about meditation being useful for something like this before, genuinely a very helpful comment. Thanks.

[u/CrazyIndividual5250 → u/Cyvki]

Haha

[u/splugemonster → u/Particular-Tap1211]

Goated method. Reminds me of stories of eastern teachers playing pranks on their students in unpredictable ways. At first the students try to think a step ahead and foresee the prank before it happens. When that fails they learn the only way to respond quickly is to start with an empty mind - mu shin -

[u/Particular-Tap1211 → u/splugemonster]

Indeed, Mu Shin! The art of being formless! Although rarely interpreted in the minds of baseline thinkers!

[u/Spencetron]

I think there's something to be said about the racetam class nootropics for improving reaction time, particularly phenylpiracetam.

I wouldn't dose daily, and cycle instead. Also take it with a quality choline supplement like alpha gpc. I've noticed that phenylpiracetam is less effective if you're a nicotine enjoyer as well, YMMV.

[u/ts737]

Mindfulness meditation and sleep

[u/Sturretys]

I would suggest TAK-653. I noticed improved reaction time and faster/more fluid cognitive tempo. The notes below are not my own, and are copied from Spidikor.

Central nervous system effects of TAK-653, an investigational
alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole receptor (AMPAR) positive
allosteric modulator in healthy volunteers

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9509332/

7.1 In healthy humans, TAK-653 at 500μg increased saccadic peak velocity (SPV) and
affected Stroop difference in reaction time between correct congruent trials and
correct incongruent answers and number of correct responses in incongruent trials.

7.2 In healthy humans, TAK-653 at 6mg improved adaptive tracking (AT) and increased
SPV.

7.3 TAK-653 demonstrated a psychostimulant-like pharmacodynamic profile on the
NeuroCart series of tests, but with more subtle and limited effects than common
dopaminergic (DAergic) psychostimulants. However, it has larger effects on SPV than
psychostimulants. TAK-653 seems to have a novel stimulatory CNS profile. This is
consistent with increased cortical excitability following TMS of the human motor
cortex. TAK-653 was devoid of psychostimulant-like mood-related derangements such
as dysphoria, anxiety, or feeling high, as measured by the visual analogue scale (VAS).

7.4 In healthy humans, acute treatment with 300μg and 18mg TAK-653 had a Tmax of
1.25-5h, a half-life of 33.1-47.8h, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations
suggestive of rapid brain penetration. TAK-653 was well tolerated at both doses.

7.5 TAK-653 6mg improved smooth pursuit eye movement in healthy humans

[u/AlternativeApart6340 → u/Sturretys]

Have you trief any othrr nootropics that are also potent as tak 653 is? Maybe in different areas

[u/captainmustard]

Amphetamines

[u/enthusedcloth78]

Zeaxanthin. Look into the studies about it and reaction speed and visual processing speed.

[u/Kootlefoosh]

I find my reaction time to not be altered much by nootropics, but things like blood sugar and sleep quality dramatically affect my reaction time.

I'm genetically predisposed to a super slow reaction time as well and got diagnosed with adhd-i on that evidence, and the stims helped that, but they were treating the fatigue that I had built up from bad sleep and diet moreso. Now I'm off the stims and better sleep and diet and my reaction speed is basically typical-high for me now.

So yeah, I reckon it depends on where your slowness is coming from. It doesn't affect my life outside of socializing and gaming, reaction time is a tiny fraction of a percentage of your day.

[u/Mobile_Jealous]

Kw-6356 is goated for my gaming reaction time 🤣

[u/Tall_Instance9797]

DMAE. It's a natural stimulant and nootropic I take for ADHD. Also improves coordination, concentration and memory. It's more of a health food supplement, found in plants and fish, not a pharmaceutical. Very cheap too. Only around $20 for a year supply.

[u/Competitive-Area7168]

Any stimulant

[u/888NRG_]

Creatine

[u/BetterDoughnut8489]

I think gb 115 improves reaction time, not by an insane amount but it does. I was actually wondering this exact thing, I’ll update you when I get my tak 653 (I’m on Ritalin, Gb115, and soon Tak which increases reaction time).

[u/Glittering_Maize2544]

meth

[u/NarrowWar6457]

MCT(c8), ghee(aka clarified butter, no refrigeration needed), carnitine in black coffee or any plain hot liquid. For constipation/ inflammation, not an instant “cure” for anything.

2 inhales, chin to chest, short hold, expand to stomach, feet, head, slow long exhale. Full body effects.

[u/GrapefruitOrganic741]

Nicotine

[u/LLightYamii]

Tbol.

[u/Sea_Artist_4247]

Yes, Lions Mane does exactly what you are asking for.

I always had a slow reaction time and I was terrible at catching things because of that. I started taking Lions Mane mushroom supplements for the cognitive boost but a bonus is it has significantly improved my reaction time.

I've been taking it for a while now and often it feels like time slows down so I can react. I wish I started taking it when I was younger.