Comments on: Circadian rhythm disruption -> too much GABA -> learning problem http://neurodudes.com/2008/11/02/circadian-rhythm-disruption-too-much-gaba-learning-problem/ at the intersection of neuroscience and AI. Sun, 28 Feb 2010 02:02:37 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Wishes to be anonymous http://neurodudes.com/2008/11/02/circadian-rhythm-disruption-too-much-gaba-learning-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-803310 Wishes to be anonymous Thu, 01 Jan 2009 13:36:21 +0000 http://neurodudes.com/?p=499#comment-803310 I initiated morning light therapy a few years ago to treat a very severe circadian rhythm disorder (delayed sleep phase syndrome; confirmed in an overnight study at a sleep lab). My case was so extreme that I was at my best from midnight to 7 A.M. The light therapy worked beautifully! However, when I adopted a daytime schedule, I developed an equally severe sleepwalking problem. I was sleepwalking several times a week, sometimes sustaining injuries and/or breaking objects. I started taking GABA supplements at night as a treatment for mild anxiety. It didn't work for the anxiety at all - but it unexpectedly "cured" my sleepwalking! I discontinued the GABA supplements at one point, thinking maybe I'd just "gotten over" the sleepwalking problem; I was sleepwalking again within a week. I now take the GABA supplements nightly. However, it definitely seems to cause memory problems. I don't feel dopey or drugged after taking it, but I'll watch an entire TV program or read a book chapter, and then I remember virtually none of it the next day. It's as if the memories just don't "stick." I think it's very likely that all of these things are related...especially given the evidence put forth on this web page. Maybe worthy of future research.... I initiated morning light therapy a few years ago to treat a very severe circadian rhythm disorder (delayed sleep phase syndrome; confirmed in an overnight study at a sleep lab). My case was so extreme that I was at my best from midnight to 7 A.M. The light therapy worked beautifully! However, when I adopted a daytime schedule, I developed an equally severe sleepwalking problem. I was sleepwalking several times a week, sometimes sustaining injuries and/or breaking objects.

I started taking GABA supplements at night as a treatment for mild anxiety. It didn’t work for the anxiety at all – but it unexpectedly “cured” my sleepwalking! I discontinued the GABA supplements at one point, thinking maybe I’d just “gotten over” the sleepwalking problem; I was sleepwalking again within a week. I now take the GABA supplements nightly. However, it definitely seems to cause memory problems. I don’t feel dopey or drugged after taking it, but I’ll watch an entire TV program or read a book chapter, and then I remember virtually none of it the next day. It’s as if the memories just don’t “stick.”

I think it’s very likely that all of these things are related…especially given the evidence put forth on this web page. Maybe worthy of future research….

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