nootropic

Coined in 1972 by Dr. Corneliu E. Giurgea, derived from the Ancient Greek words νόος (nóos, “mind”) and τροπέω (tropéō, “to turn”)

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˌnoʊəˈtɹoʊpɪk/, /ˌnoʊəˈtɹɑːpɪk/

nootropic (plural nootropics)

1. (medicine) Any substance purported to increase or enhance cognitive abilities.
2. (pharmacology) A drug that enhances learning and memory and lacks the usual pharmacology of other psychotropic drugs (e.g. sedation, motor stimulation) and possesses very few side effects and extremely low toxicity.

• smart drug
• memory enhancer

• piracetam
• caffeine

• See: nous#Related terms

• coportion