Just came across this study done by the Naval Aerospace Labs on the use of tyrosine (non-essential amino acid) to boost cognitive performance following extended wakefulness. I would love to see the actual study, as the summary is kind of brief.
Looks kind of interesting, considering tyrosine can be purchased at any vitamin store. You get about a 3 hour improvement in mental performance following a 150mg/kg dose of tyrosine. That is a hefty dose of about 10 grams for a 70kg person.
Anyone actually tried using tyrosine themselves?


Aviat Space Environ Med. 1995 Apr;66(4):313-9.

The effects of tyrosine on cognitive performance during extended wakefulness.

Neri DF, Wiegmann D, Stanny RR, Shappell SA, McCardie A, McKay DL.

Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory, Pensacola, FL, USA.

Tyrosine, a large neutral amino acid found in dietary proteins, has received recent attention as a potential treatment for stress. The behavioral effects of tyrosine were examined during an episode of continuous nighttime work involving one night's sleep loss. Subjects performed nine iterations of a battery of performance tasks and mood scales for approximately 13 h, beginning at 1930 and ending at 0820. They remained awake throughout the day on which the experiment began and were awake for more than 24 h by the end of testing. Six hours after the experiment began, one-half of the subjects received 150 mg.kg-1 tyrosine in a split dose while the other half received cornstarch placebo in a double-blind procedure. Tyrosine administration was associated with a significant amelioration of the usual performance decline on a psychomotor task and a significant reduction in lapse probability on a high-event-rate vigilance task. The improvements lasted on the order of 3 h. The results of this study also suggest that tyrosine is a relatively benign treatment at this dose. After further testing with other doses and timing of administration, tyrosine may prove useful in counteracting performance decrements during episodes of sustained work coupled with sleep loss.

Rock'nRoll and John Williams movie soundtracks: my short term vigilance booster.

I may have to try this during a 20-hour poker session. I go to casinos about once a month and this sounds great.

My wife is the director of that library. If you send me a PM with your preferred fax or e-mail, I will see if she can send you a copy.

Jeff

I'll have to check that out with my local health supplement store. I drive late at night with little warning and sometimes less sleep.

Sue

10 grams (choke!) Most tyrosine comes in 500mg tabs (or capsules) That's 20 of those a day. There's probably a powder formulation available that you could just make a shake out of. Still, sounds like a lotta trouble to stay sharp--er.

I like the military's new approach to include Jolt gum in their light rations.