Persons interested in developing their memory, should avoid the regular use of mild stimulants, such as coffee, tea and tobacco, which contain caffeine, the theine, and nicotine, respectively. Strictly avoid using strong stimulants, such as liquor and drugs. All strong stimulants intoxicate, drug, and deteriorate, intelligence, and memory cells of the brain, preventing them from recording, noble ideas, and sense impressions in general. Memory cells that are constantly, and anesthetized by stimulants lose their retentive power and become lazy and inert. Intoxication obliterate the functions of the conscious mind by harmful chemicals, hence injures the cerebral memory-organ. When the brain is affected the memory is impaired.
Paramahansa Yogananda (SRF lesson 49)
Steve, thanks for the citation, I'm going to elaborate this sphere of thoughts, I think I may have understood the conceptual framework of Yogananda's words, which is dopamine (and other neurotransmitters) overstimulation and exhaustion, a concept underlined in a podcast by the neurologist Andrew Hubermann.
