Nootropics Survey 2020 Results

Writeup of the 2020 SSC nootropics survey (852 respondents rating nootropics 1-10). Predictable overall pattern (stimulants > non-stimulants, addictive > safe, mainstays > novel), but the standout is Zembrin (a kanna/SSRI extract) — the one new substance that beat the mainstays — which Scott followed up on with a preregistered cohort (16/22 found it helpful). Plus theacrine/tolerance, sublingual-modafinil, and vendor-recommendation sections. (The Zembrin excitement later failed to replicate — see the Troof linkpost ACX-283.)

Quality 61 · Strong. Strong (lower): a competent, useful survey with one genuinely interesting (if later-non-replicated) finding he chased down; slightly above the ACX-283 Troof linkpost (58) as the primary survey.

Claude’s paradigm shift 40 · Moderate. Slight-Moderate: applies survey data; the Zembrin lead is the only real novelty.

Real-world impact 1 · Negligible. Reader-survey data; negligible material reach. =1.