By Mathew Honan 
04.21.08 | 6:00 PM
04.21.08 | 6:00 PM Brains + drugs = fried eggs, right? Not always. Some pills can boost your cognitive output. But we at Wired aren't doctors. Anyone who takes a bushel of drugs based on our say-so must be high.
| KEY | Order online | Buy from manufacturer | Tap black market | Fake illness | Hit drugstore |
| Drugs | What it does | How to get it | Possible side effects |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adderall | Thought to optimize levels of dopamine and norepinephrine, enhancing concentration and turning mundane tasks into wondrous ones. Often prescribed to ADHD patients (wink, wink). | Addiction, headaches, insomnia, Tourette's-like symptoms, heart attack | |
| Aniracetam | Seems to boost release of glutamate, speeding neurotransmission and improving memory. Not a ton of evidence, though. | Anxiety, agitation, insomnia, dizziness, epigastric heaviness (feeling full) | |
| Aricept | An Alzheimer's drug that may also enhance memory in healthy adults. Thought to reduce the breakdown of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that helps relay messages around the brain. | Nausea, diarrhea, fainting | |
| Methamphetamine | Triggers the release of dopamine. Can increase concentration and creative output. Prolonged use can also make you stupid and crazy. | Parkinson's-like symptoms, addiction, stroke, psychosis, prison, death | |
| Modafinil | A narcolepsy medication that improves focus, pattern recognition, and short-term memory. The exact mechanism of action is unclear. Good for card counters. | Chest pain, nausea, headache, life-threatening rash | |
| Nicotine | Chemically similar to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Spurs faster interaction between nerve cells in the brain, aiding memory formation and attention. | Addiction, cancer, social isolation (depending on delivery mechanism) | |
| Rolipram | Originally used as an antidepressant. May elevate levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate to boost memory. Improves cognition (in rats). | Headache, nausea, intense vomiting | |
| Vasopressin | Produced naturally in the pituitary gland and used in the formation of new memories. Shown to help users learn more effectively (especially men). Prescribed as a drug for diabetes insipidus. | Angina, nausea, wheezing, belching, coma |
Illustration: Christoph Niemann
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