Cognitive/neuro enhancement and gambling

[cheEsteban]

Most of those posting here seek an improvement in their gambling. Whether by working with patterns in bet selection, money management, mechanical aspects of gambling, etc.

But i would like to hear from others about how their mental state affects their results. You read stories about players forgetting their rules or protocols in the heat of the moment, in the frustration of an unexpected loss. ...and how they react irrationally to their own detriment. I know several tutors who recommend avoiding playing when tired, anxious, unable to focus and so on. It only makes sense.

I would like to share something i have been trying out on myself. This was not related to gambling but i thought it might be interesting for some.
There are a couple of interventions with interesting (beneficial , that is) effects on the cognitive and emotional states of people. You can look up Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) and transcranel direct current stimulation (tDCS)  articles in Pubmed.org  to see what researchers have been reporting for the last ~10 years.

I started trying this out for health reasons because i was convince about the science behind ( thanks to my training and formal education). The reported (and verified in my experience) results that might be interesting for the forum would be the increased focus, decrease anxiety, better sleep patterns, faster reaction, improved spatial acuity, learning and recall improvement
If anyone would like to browse through boring papers on this subject, let me know. I can post links to very provocative findings.

I haven't been in brick & mortar casino in a while now, which has different effects on our performance as compared to online gambling, but it stands to reason that it should profit from this type of treatment. I have notice that i am more aware and react faster to outcomes when playing online, as well as keeping better track of when to stop. This could be related to how motiviation and compulsive behavior are related to underlying neuronal structures and their phyisiological mechanisms, which are affected by LLLT and tDCS.
Ok, i will stop with the digression; i can get quite distracted when talking about neuroscience. 

No experiments are being done in relationship to gambling, but i am keeping track of how it affects me. It is all anecdotal and hardly objective , but i would like to know what you think:
how much does your mental state and health affect you when playing?
Have any of you tried any chemical help ? ( i.e. ß blockers for performance anxiety, etc )

How much do you think that you would profit if your were in a better mental state while gambling and not making dumb mistakes? (not following the method/system or money management rules, etc).

I hope we can get some lively conversation over this.. or share new tools to help out in your play!

[cheEsteban]

...just noticed the spelling mistakes.  I guess that what i try does not help me with grammar .

[ausguy]

CheEsteban - There is much merit in what you say. My biggest downfalls (losses) have come from FLUCTUATING MENTAL STATES resulting in deviating from the chosen bet method/system. Whether on line or at B & M casinos. Post loss testing has often shown "SHOULD HAVE WON" events that would have seen me head home or log off with a profit instead of an empty wallet. IF I'd ONLY stuck to the PROGRAM ?

I would expect that many others would be or have experienced similar circumstances = THE HUMAN FACTOR.

My wish has always been to have a betting partner or two to keep each on our predermined tracks. Unfortunately for me I'm the only person in my circle of family/friends/aquaintances that has an interest in casino games & structured betting.

So, just like the albatross that spends a lot of it's life flying alone over the oceans, we have many of us "Casino Albatrosses" flying alone either at B & M casinos or on line.

"United we stand & divided we fall comes to mind".   United is the Casino & divided is the "Casino Albatross". This goes someway to explaining most Casino's healthy profits.

[cheEsteban]

I guess it is for a good reason that the casino designs its buildings to keep you disoriented in regards to the time you spend there, as well as supply you with cheap alcohol and lots of blinking lights & random noises.

In any normal task requiring mental effort, you need to take a rest every once in a while, good hydration, etc,etc. Same goes with gambling, so after a while at the tables it stands to reason that you are not at your best.

I am sure the casinos have put alot of money and research into how they design the environment and play experience to add to their advantage....

[Dane]

I guess it is for a good reason that the casino designs its buildings to keep you disoriented in regards to the time you spend there, as well as supply you with cheap alcohol and lots of blinking lights & random noises.

In any normal task requiring mental effort, you need to take a rest every once in a while, good hydration, etc,etc. Same goes with gambling, so after a while at the tables it stands to reason that you are not at your best.

I am sure the casinos have put alot of money and research into how they design the environment and play experience to add to their advantage....

Sure! I prefer brick & mortar casinos. And I have noticed that one of them lately has placed mirrors behind the touchbet roulette machines.  So when I look up I see the reflection of beautiful women (mistitled prostitutes) and blinking lights. I try to keep some of the noice out by using earplugs.
The Casinos don´t supply me with alcohol, as I refuse to receive it. But I drink much coffee, which might not be healthy.

I repeat that TIME is still important.
We should take the the time to prepare ourselves for their tricks.
They isolate us from the natural light (sun, moon).
And if they have wall clocks, they keep them well hidden.
Better look at the electronic reader board, dear guest!
Maybe we have a train to catch. I had figured out that I could expect to see approx. 120 spins per night at the casino and still be able to catch the train.
Then one busy Saturday night only 85 spins were delivered in time.
Another night I had to leave with my pockets filled with MANY coins 

Are we able to transcend time?
I am sure sure.
And I have practised Transcendental Meditation almost as long as David Lynch.
Unfortunately it´s rather expensive to learn nowadays.

[cheEsteban]

Earplugs! Of course.... i feel silly not having thought about that. I used to put a good playlist on my phone but that had to compete with the sound in the place ( it was playing automatic roulette while doing a project in Netherlands).

Still, it is a good idea to get up every once in a while, walk around, go out for some fresh air if there is a balcony, wash your face , etc. Our minds are most efficient for a focused task during 20 minutes on average; then our performance drops. Our ability to cope with stress and work diminishes when tired, so how do the more experienced players here deal with it?

... for some reason i imagine GLC, MrJ, Ego et al as hard bitten Clint Eastwood types that just sit there and bear it. Heck, even the balls flinch and jump slots under their steely gaze !!!

Seriously though, i would love to see how tDCS affects someone who has been playing regular of late. The one effect i am most curious to test is the state of flow that is mentioned oftenly. This might be a good candidate parameter to test on playing.
Anyone up for the challenge?

[cheEsteban]

Quick update....

My experiments in tDCS have been quite remarkable. I have easily recruited acquaintances, friends and colleagues.. mostly thru word of mouth since once they see the results in others, they almost beg to let me try it on them.

In all cases, i see similar results: less anxiety/depression, more focus, faster reaction time... i have been testing cognitive function effects with brain training excercise (i have had some very good results with dual N-back games on naive subjects!).

The thing is that i am much better when playing online: more focused, less anxious... meaning i follow thru with a method and do not mess up by getting scared.

If you would like more information you can checkout:
link:://:.reddit.com/r/tDCS/
link:://:.diytdcs.com/