Piracetam

Joseph Ruchalski in the LSU Daily Reveille:

Nootropics, popularly known as "smart drugs," are thought to enhance cognitive function in the brain. Largely unknown in the United States, these substances are often prescribed in Europe and South America to treat a wide variety of symptoms... The first formulated and commonly available drug is Piracetam. Discovered in the 1960s, it is believed to work by stimulating the cerebral cortex and increase the energy level of neurons as well as flow of information between the right and left brain hemispheres. Not approved by the Food and Drug Administration or a scheduled narcotic, it is considered a nutritional supplement and purchase and importation of the substance for personal use is legal.

Not shy to try new things out in the name of science, I recently acquired an ample supply of Piracetam...

The effects were immediate if mild. Unlike the induced attentiveness of caffeine, there were no feelings of jitteriness or adrenaline rush induced edginess. Increased memory and mental clarity followed, allowing pages and pages of reading to be started and finished.

Nice to know that the experiments continue.