2016 Nootropics Survey Results

Results of Scott's 2016 nootropics survey (850 respondents rating substances 0-10). Methods checks: a clean caffeine bell curve, r=0.76 test-retest vs. the 2014 survey, and a partial placebo-control argument (ashwagandha beats rhodiola despite identical packaging, p=0.03). Findings: the effective-but-addictive/illegal top tier (Adderall, LSD microdosing, phenibut, modafinil), a more interesting second tier (tianeptine, Semax, ashwagandha), Alpha Brain as the big loser, and an addiction breakdown (Adderall ~15%, phenibut ~3%, nicotine ~35% but 65% for cigarettes vs. 25% e-cig vs. 7% gum).

Quality 60 · Strong. A genuinely useful informal survey with good methodological caveats (placebo/blinding) and an informative addiction breakdown, but a results-dump format rather than a developed argument. Solid.

Claude’s paradigm shift 42 · Moderate. A survey-data writeup; little conceptual novelty. Moderate-low.

Real-world impact 2 · Minor. A within-community data post; no material-world effect. Within-blog influence.