Nootropic

Factor analysis of nootropic rating from the 2016 survey

Nootropics (also referred to as smart drugs, neuro enhancers, and cognitive enhancers) are substances that purportedly improve cognitive functions such as memory, motivation, attention, and concentration, in healthy individuals.^[1]^[2] Nootropics are thought to work by altering the availability of the brain's supply of neurochemicals (i.e. neurotransmitters, enzymes, and hormones), by improving the brain's oxygen supply, or by stimulating nerve growth.^{[citation needed]}

The word nootropic was coined in 1972 by a Romanian psychologist and chemist, Corneliu E. Giurgea,^[3]^[4] from the Greek words νοῦς (nous), or "mind", and τρέπειν (trepein), meaning to bend or turn.^[5] Dr. Giurgea proposed the following criteria for determining whether or not a substance fits the "nootropic" descriptor:

Enhancement of learning and memory function
Improvement of learned behaviors when conditions are set to disrupt them (e.g. administering an amnesiac)
Must be neuroprotective
Must be extremely low in toxicity, with few to no side effects

However, the term has come to acquire a popular meaning that does not require all of these criteria.

Classes

Noopept molecule

Piracetam Chemical Structure

There are several classes of nootropics, as well as compounds which fit no specific classification. Once of the most well-known and most-utilized is that of the racetams, the prototypical example being that of piracetam, the first nootropic recognized as such in 1964. The racetams all share a 2-pyrrolidinone cycle. Other racetam nootropics include aniracetam, oxiracetam, phenylpiracetam, and coluracetam.

A second class of nootropic compounds are the synthetic peptides, the most common example being that of noopept. Although not a racetam, noopept is commonly grouped with racetams due to a similar mode of action.

As nootropics science is in its infancy, there are new compounds being synthesized such as IDRA-21, PRL-8-53, unifiram, sunifiram, etc. which do not neatly fit into a structural class. Additionally, side effects, dosages, dangerous interactions and the like are virtually unknown for some of these compounds.

Subjective effects

Disclaimer: The effects listed below cite the Subjective Effect Index (SEI), an open research literature based on anecdotal user reports and the personal analyses of PsychonautWiki contributors. As a result, they should be viewed with a healthy degree of skepticism.

It is also worth noting that these effects will not necessarily occur in a predictable or reliable manner, although higher doses are more liable to induce the full spectrum of effects. Likewise, adverse effects become increasingly likely with higher doses and may include addiction, severe injury, or death ☠. The effect is listed and defined in its own dedicated article below:

Examples

Racetams

Afinils

Nutrients

Ampkines

IDRA-21

Others

External links

Discussion

/r/Nootropics (Reddit)

References

↑ Frati, P., Kyriakou, C., Rio, A. D., Marinelli, E., Vergallo, G. M., Zaami, S., Busardo, F. P. "Smart Drugs and Synthetic Androgens for Cognitive and Physical Enhancement: Revolving Doors of Cosmetic Neurology". Current Neuropharmacology. 13 (1): 5–11.
↑ Lanni, C., Lenzken, S. C., Pascale, A., Del Vecchio, I., Racchi, M., Pistoia, F., Govoni, S. (1 March 2008). "Cognition enhancers between treating and doping the mind". Pharmacological Research. 57 (3): 196–213. doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2008.02.004. ISSN 1043-6618.
↑ Gazzaniga, Michael S. (2006). The Ethical Brain: The Science of Our Moral Dilemmas (P.S.). New York, N.Y: Harper Perennial. p. 184. ISBN 0-06-088473-8.
↑ Giurgea C (1972). "[Pharmacology of integrative activity of the brain. Attempt at nootropic concept in psychopharmacology] ("Vers une pharmacologie de l'active integrative du cerveau: Tentative du concept nootrope en psychopharmacologie")". Actual Pharmacol (Paris) (in French). 25: 115–56. PMID 4541214.
↑ "nootropic | Definition of nootropic in English by Oxford Dictionaries". Oxford Dictionaries | English. Retrieved 2018-07-19.

[1] Frati, P., Kyriakou, C., Rio, A. D., Marinelli, E., Vergallo, G. M., Zaami, S., Busardo, F. P. "Smart Drugs and Synthetic Androgens for Cognitive and Physical Enhancement: Revolving Doors of Cosmetic Neurology". Current Neuropharmacology. 13 (1): 5–11.

[2] Lanni, C., Lenzken, S. C., Pascale, A., Del Vecchio, I., Racchi, M., Pistoia, F., Govoni, S. (1 March 2008). "Cognition enhancers between treating and doping the mind". Pharmacological Research. 57 (3): 196–213. doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2008.02.004. ISSN 1043-6618.

[isbn0-06-088473-8-3] Gazzaniga, Michael S. (2006). The Ethical Brain: The Science of Our Moral Dilemmas (P.S.). New York, N.Y: Harper Perennial. p. 184. ISBN 0-06-088473-8.

[pmid4541214-4] Giurgea C (1972). "[Pharmacology of integrative activity of the brain. Attempt at nootropic concept in psychopharmacology] ("Vers une pharmacologie de l'active integrative du cerveau: Tentative du concept nootrope en psychopharmacologie")". Actual Pharmacol (Paris) (in French). 25: 115–56. PMID 4541214.

[5] "nootropic | Definition of nootropic in English by Oxford Dictionaries". Oxford Dictionaries | English. Retrieved 2018-07-19.

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