If you want faster-better brain function take Phosphatidylserine with your Ginkgo biloba extract

L-Theanine helps you pay attention

In this study 123 patients with acute exacerbation (drastic-sudden worsening of symptoms) of their chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were placed on NAC 600mg or NAC 1200mg once a day, or inactive placebo for 10 days. The study was double-blinded, double-dummy, randomized and of course placebo controlled; the gold standard for research.

Scientists in the Department of Psychology Program in Cognitive Neuroscience, the City College of the City University of New York state that L-Theanine improves alpha-wave activity in a part of the brain involved with attention; this could lead to improvement in selective attention and attention span. Individuals who participated in the study were hooked up to a brain activity mapping apparatus and input was received through 168 scalp electrode channels.

L-Theanine significantly improved alpha-wave activity in areas involved with selective auditory attention to a greater degree than the visual modality. Alpha wave levels for distraction appreciably dropped while alpha-wave activity for paying attention to the task at hand; a demanding attention task, significantly improved. The study is published in the Jan-Feb 2007 issue of the journal Clinical Neuropharmacology.

Scientists in the Division of Psychology, Human Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, University of Northumbria, UK, gave healthy-young participants each of the following separated by a 7 day period; 120mg of Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) alone, 120mg GBE plus Phosphatidylserine, 120mg GBE plus Phosphatidylcholine, or placebo in a placebo-controlled, double-blinded, balanced-crossover design study (the gold standard of studies).

Cognitive performance was assessed immediately before, and 1, 2.5, 4, and 6 hours after dosing. 120mg of GBE was not associated with a significant improvement of cognitive function over placebo, and adding Phosphatidylcholine did very modestly improve performance. Supplementing with GBE in addition to Phosphatidylserine markedly improved cognitive performance in all four areas measured and additionally improved the speed of performance and at every time point measured after dosing. The combining of GBE with Phosphatidylserine improved memory performance. The level of active constituents of Ginkgo biloba in the blood was not affected by the additional ingredients so it was the interaction between the nutrients that improved brain function and not increased absorption of GBE as some manufacturers imply. The study is published in the June 2007 issue of the journal Human Psychopharmacology.