Use Case: Supplements
Track if your nootropics actually work
The Problem
You're spending $50-200/month on cognitive supplements, but have no objective way to know if they're doing anything. Placebo effect is powerful, and subjective 'feeling sharper' isn't data.
The Solution
Thalen measures 5 cognitive domains daily. See objective changes expressed as points: 'Alpha-GPC = +82 average.' Numbers that placebo can't fake.
How It Works
How to test a supplement
A systematic approach to measuring whether a nootropic actually improves your cognition.
Establish your baseline first
Complete 7 sessions without taking the supplement you want to test. This captures your natural cognitive variance and creates a reliable personal baseline for comparison.
Start the supplement and test daily
Begin taking the supplement at a consistent time and continue your daily 5-minute Thalen sessions. Test at the same time each day to control for circadian variation.
Compare your scores
After 2-3 weeks, compare your average Thalen Score on vs off the supplement. A +50 difference is noticeable. +100 is significant.
Look for statistically significant patterns
A single good day means nothing. Look for consistent improvements across multiple sessions. Thalen highlights when changes are likely real vs. random variance.
Example
Alpha-GPC: +82 points over 30 days
A user wanted to test whether Alpha-GPC (a popular choline supplement) improved their cognitive performance. They established a 7-day baseline (avg 1520), then started 300mg Alpha-GPC daily with breakfast. Testing continued at 8am each morning for 30 days.
| Metric | Before | After | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Thalen Score | 1520 | 1602 | +82 points |
| Working Memory (N-Back) | d' = 2.1 | d' = 2.8 | +33% |
| Reaction Time (PVT) | 285ms | 271ms | -14ms faster |
| Rank Position | Potent (mid) | Potent (high) | Approaching Coherent |
Key Insight
The +82 point improvement moved this user from mid-Potent toward Coherent territory. The strongest effect appeared in working memory, which aligns with Alpha-GPC's mechanism as a choline precursor. The improvement was statistically significant (p < 0.05).
This is a hypothetical example for illustration. Individual results vary based on baseline, consistency, and intervention.
Getting Started
What supplements can you test?
Cholinergics
Alpha-GPC, CDP-Choline, and other acetylcholine precursors. Often show effects on working memory tasks like N-Back.
Primary metrics: N-Back d', DSST accuracy
Stimulants
Caffeine, modafinil, or prescription stimulants. Typically affect reaction time and sustained attention.
Primary metrics: PVT speed, lapse count
Adaptogens
Ashwagandha, rhodiola, and similar compounds. May require longer testing periods (4-8 weeks) to see effects.
Primary metrics: Composite score stability
Racetams & Nootropics
Piracetam, aniracetam, noopept, and related compounds. Effects vary widely by individual.
Primary metrics: All domains (individual variation)
Pro Tips
Get reliable results
Test one variable at a time. If you change your supplement stack and sleep schedule simultaneously, you won't know what caused any changes.
Control for timing. Many nootropics have acute effects that peak 1-2 hours after dosing. Test at a consistent time relative to when you take the supplement.
Run for at least 2-3 weeks. Short tests are dominated by random variance. Longer tests let real effects emerge from the noise.
Consider a washout period. After testing, stop the supplement for 1-2 weeks and see if performance returns to baseline. This confirms the effect was real.
Get early access.
Thalen is coming to iOS first. Join the TestFlight beta and start building your cognitive baseline.
Free. Your data stays on your device. No account required.