Comments on: Science in Action: Omega-3 (VSE) http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2007/08/22/science-in-action-omega-3-vse/ Self-Experimentation, Scientific Method, the Shangri-La Diet, etc. Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:08:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.7 by: seth http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2007/08/22/science-in-action-omega-3-vse/#comment-36992 Sat, 25 Aug 2007 05:03:54 +0000 http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2007/08/22/science-in-action-omega-3-vse/#comment-36992 During an uneventful day they are flat within the limits of measurement, except at the beginning and end of the day I am slower. During an uneventful day they are flat within the limits of measurement, except at the beginning and end of the day I am slower.

]]> by: Janet R http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2007/08/22/science-in-action-omega-3-vse/#comment-36843 Fri, 24 Aug 2007 16:16:36 +0000 http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2007/08/22/science-in-action-omega-3-vse/#comment-36843 What do the plots look like when you don't take anything? Mental accuity may vary substantially through the day. What do the plots look like when you don’t take anything? Mental accuity may vary substantially through the day.

]]> by: seth http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2007/08/22/science-in-action-omega-3-vse/#comment-36805 Fri, 24 Aug 2007 11:37:05 +0000 http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2007/08/22/science-in-action-omega-3-vse/#comment-36805 Michael, what makes me trust my results is repetition. This is my fifth observation of the dip. The first observation was a surprise. Before this series of observations, I believed that flaxseed oil had long-lasting benefits. Long-lasting, meaning weeks or months. This is a short-lasting benefit -- not an effect that I thought flaxseed oil had. Michael, what makes me trust my results is repetition. This is my fifth observation of the dip. The first observation was a surprise. Before this series of observations, I believed that flaxseed oil had long-lasting benefits. Long-lasting, meaning weeks or months. This is a short-lasting benefit — not an effect that I thought flaxseed oil had.

]]> by: Michael Parente http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2007/08/22/science-in-action-omega-3-vse/#comment-36659 Thu, 23 Aug 2007 21:19:59 +0000 http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2007/08/22/science-in-action-omega-3-vse/#comment-36659 Seth, when you are clearly an advocate of the benefits of flaxseed oil, what makes you trust the results of your experiment? Seth, when you are clearly an advocate of the benefits of flaxseed oil, what makes you trust the results of your experiment?

]]> by: Timothy Beneke http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2007/08/22/science-in-action-omega-3-vse/#comment-36626 Thu, 23 Aug 2007 17:26:31 +0000 http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2007/08/22/science-in-action-omega-3-vse/#comment-36626 My non-rigourous observation after doing 3-4 tablespoons a day of flax seed oil is that yes, it does enhance mental functioning. I've been reading and writing poetry furiously all summer, and have reached degrees of comprehension in reading and interesting associations in writing that I never got to before. One caveat: I also have done a lot of reading poetry out loud; reading aloud according to a Japanese neuroscientist oxygenates the brain more than any other activity tested. That is a confound. But I'm staying with the flax seed oil until I am given a reason not to... My non-rigourous observation after doing 3-4 tablespoons a day of flax seed oil is that yes, it does enhance mental functioning. I’ve been reading and writing poetry furiously all summer, and have reached degrees of comprehension in reading and interesting associations in writing that I never got to before.

One caveat: I also have done a lot of reading poetry out loud; reading aloud according to a Japanese neuroscientist oxygenates the brain more than any other activity tested. That is a confound. But I’m staying with the flax seed oil until I am given a reason not to…

]]> by: seth http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2007/08/22/science-in-action-omega-3-vse/#comment-36509 Thu, 23 Aug 2007 04:43:07 +0000 http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2007/08/22/science-in-action-omega-3-vse/#comment-36509 Andrew, no, I'm not worried that the results are due to expectations. If the results always conformed to my expectations, I'd be worried, but they haven't -- see my post about eggs. Moreover, this particular result confirms a result that was a surprise. In other words, I've gotten the same result when I was expecting it and when I wasn't expecting it. Peter, thanks for the suggestion. I'm going to start by testing common foods, such as salmon, and easy-to-get foods, such as my 8 remaining grass-fed eggs. Andrew, no, I’m not worried that the results are due to expectations. If the results always conformed to my expectations, I’d be worried, but they haven’t — see my post about eggs. Moreover, this particular result confirms a result that was a surprise. In other words, I’ve gotten the same result when I was expecting it and when I wasn’t expecting it.

Peter, thanks for the suggestion. I’m going to start by testing common foods, such as salmon, and easy-to-get foods, such as my 8 remaining grass-fed eggs.

]]> by: peter http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2007/08/22/science-in-action-omega-3-vse/#comment-36465 Thu, 23 Aug 2007 00:31:27 +0000 http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2007/08/22/science-in-action-omega-3-vse/#comment-36465 could you put Purslane on your list of foods to test? It is rich a source of omega-3, although i've never been able to find it anywhere. (if you could tell me where to buy it that would be great, although it may be asking a lot) could you put Purslane on your list of foods to test? It is rich a source of omega-3, although i’ve never been able to find it anywhere. (if you could tell me where to buy it that would be great, although it may be asking a lot)

]]> by: Andrew Gelman http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2007/08/22/science-in-action-omega-3-vse/#comment-36445 Wed, 22 Aug 2007 22:42:44 +0000 http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2007/08/22/science-in-action-omega-3-vse/#comment-36445 Seth, Not to be a wet blanket or anything, but aren't you worried that your findings might be due to expectation effects: you knew which oil you were taking when doing the tests, right? Seth,
Not to be a wet blanket or anything, but aren’t you worried that your findings might be due to expectation effects: you knew which oil you were taking when doing the tests, right?

]]> by: Brad http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2007/08/22/science-in-action-omega-3-vse/#comment-36444 Wed, 22 Aug 2007 22:38:31 +0000 http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2007/08/22/science-in-action-omega-3-vse/#comment-36444 I smell another best-seller, too. I smell another best-seller, too.

]]> by: Brad http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2007/08/22/science-in-action-omega-3-vse/#comment-36443 Wed, 22 Aug 2007 22:37:15 +0000 http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2007/08/22/science-in-action-omega-3-vse/#comment-36443 It'd be a great way for a grad student to make a hell of a name for himself -- do your protocol on every spice in the spice aisle, every oil in the oil aisle, every grain in the bread aisle. Headlines would be generated like clockwork: Dough Makes You Dopey. Fish Before Physics. Memory Gone? Tarragon! It’d be a great way for a grad student to make a hell of a name for himself — do your protocol on every spice in the spice aisle, every oil in the oil aisle, every grain in the bread aisle.

Headlines would be generated like clockwork:
Dough Makes You Dopey.
Fish Before Physics.
Memory Gone? Tarragon!

]]>