u/enimon-enis

I've started doing dual-n-back training about 2 weeks ago, anywhere from 5 to 20 sessions a day. I'd say I was climbing the levels at a pretty good pace, since I've started struggling with 2 and now I'm testing the waters at 6. However, I'm unsure if I'm ready to transition to 6, and my performance on lvl 5 seems very unstable. Sometimes I hit 80%+ 5 times in a row, with some of the rounds being 90%, 95% or even 97%. But then my brain just stops cooperating and the next 3 games are like 54% average. I was thinking maybe I'm just exhausting it, but at other times I might have very variable results without a high prior streak, like getting an 84% round, followed by 60% then 51%, then 79% then 82%, then 55% again.

So in short, it's just all over the place and that really frustrates me and makes it difficult to assess what's my true level and whether I'm getting lucky or actually improving. Is there perhaps anything like a short protocol, like a 30 second breathing pattern or any perception shift exercise that could reload my brain for the next round?

I've recently started taking Lions Mane, with mild positive improvements in memory. I was also considering trying semax for a while now, but since I'm getting positive effects from Lions Mane, I would prefer to keep using it while I try out semax. I looked around the internet, but couldn't find any decent reports on this specific combo. Could anyone share their take on it, whether these two should be expected to synchronise, and if anyone had some unexpected interactions?

I decided to try learn singing from basically zero. I'm 25, M, and I would say I have a chronically hoarse throat. Lately I used to get colds quite often, but even when healthy, for the past 5 years my voice just always sounded kinda dulled down.

Now a few days ago I decided to try and learn singing, so I've just picked a guitar and tried to sync my voice going up and down the scale (full notes only) on the fret. Obviously, since I'm a beginner and my technique is poor, I cannot control my voice well, but what concerned me is that even when I try just hold note, I can't sustain it for more than a few seconds without some gargling noise starting to grow in my throat, which eventually makes me cough.

So far, after 3 days of practice, my vocal range noticeably opened up and I've improved in my ability to sync notes, but the hoarse coughing problem didn't go away and I'd say my throat is even mildly sore now.

I'm not sure this is normal and I'm looking for any advice on how improve my voice hoarseness problem and avoid damaging my chords.