One of the most sought after benefits of Nootropic supplements is memory improvement.
Whether you are a college student who wants to better remember concepts discussed in lectures or someone later in life who would like help keeping their memory sharp, there are nootropics that can boost your memory capacity.
These supplements work on several different level to support the cognitive processes that make up our ability to remember. Memory is in fact quite a complex function broken down into three separate faculties to store, consolidate, and recall information.
Before considering how to use nootropics to improve memory, it will help to understand what memory is, how it is formed and retailed and how we access our encoded memories.



- Promotes brain health & communication
- Supports memory, reasoning & cognition
- oosts focus, mental clarity & attention
The Stage Model of Memory:
Related Topics
- What are Nootropics?
- Nootropics List
- Types of Nootropics
- Effects & Benefits
- How Do Nootropics Work?
- Natural Nootropics
- Enhace Intelligence
- Boost Memory
- Improve Concentration
- Reduce Anxiety
- Treat Depression
- Nootropic Side Effects & Dangers
- How to Stack Nootropics
- Best Nootropic Stacks
- Strongest Nootropics
- Where to Buy Online
- Cheapest Nootropics
- Are Nootropics Legal?
While there have been a number of different models and theories proposed to help explain how memory works, the stage model is currently in vogue.
This was developed back in 1968 by a team of psychologists and researchers who outline three separate stages of memory: sensory, short-term, and long-term.
Sensory memory is the earliest and most basic form of memory. In this stage, perceptual information from the environment is stored for a very brief period of time, depending on which sense first discovered the stimulus.
Visual information, under this theory, is stored for a half second and auditory information for about 3 to 4 seconds. After this period, most or all of this information will pass to the second stage.
Short-term memory is also known as active memory. This is what we are currently focusing on or thinking about using the powers of our conscious mind. This information will usually only be retained for 20 to 30 seconds depending on our current state of mind.
If we assign attention or meaning to it, or are in a heightened state of focus, this may lead to it being sent to the next stage. There are a number of supplements specifically geared to improving short-term memory.
Long-term memory is the final stage and often what we think of as crystallized intelligence or what we know. At this point, the information has basically passed outside of our awareness, although it can still be called back to our working (or active) memory when needed.
Not all of these memories are treated equally: some are quite easy to instantaneously recall while other may only come to mind given highly specific stimuli.

- Focus longer, clear brain fog & feel more motivated
- Boost energy, alertnes & memory
- Contains 12 safe and natural nootropic ingredients
Encoding & Storage:
Much like the idea of different stages, another theory about memory is the process of encoding and storage.
This begins with us perceiving some type of information which is combined into a single event or experience. If it is focused upon, the chances are high that it will become not only encoded, but stored in memory.
Many scientists believe that the harder you focus on something, the more likely it is to become encoded.
Brain neuron synapses are also changed by this process of focus and response to stimuli. This is like the physical infrastructure needed to help form memories.
If your dendrites (sites on a neuron that actually conduct the chemical signals from neurotransmitters) are healthy, then new synapses can be formed more easily. Of course, these sites can become damaged through a variety of events including alcohol abuse and environmental damage.
Fortunately, there are a number of Nootropics that can help to restore plasticity to our dendrites so that new neural connections can be formed.
Protein modification also plays an important role in the process of memory consolidation and storage. A number of proteins may have substances like phosphates or enzymes added to them which are used to store memories.
Several Nootropics have also been determined helpful in these processes by supplying the all-important building blocks for memory. Memory consolidation is also thought to be aided by the brain retrieving information from a gene and using it to synthesis RNA or other proteins, working in conjunction with the newly formed neuron synapses.
Memory Organization:
The way we organize memory has also long fascinated researchers. This helps us determine how to make decisions, interact with others, and even solve problems. While there are still not many very definite answers to the question of how memories are organized, the prevailing theory is that they are clustered, or stored in groups.
Then there is also the theory of semantic networking. This simply means that there are certain triggers which activate associated memories. For example, a particular smell or visit to a special location can often trigger memories of events or things which happened in that place or during a previous time when the trigger was experienced.
Nootropics & Memory:
The question of, “What is the best nootropic for memory?” requires a caveat.
There are quite a few nootropics that are considered to be excellent memory boosters and which one will produce the best results for you is a matter of subjectivity. Almost all of the Nootropics will have the ability to improve memory, at least to some degree.
If you are looking for the best place to start, consider the cholinergic nootropics such as Choline sources like Alpha GPC or CDP Choline.
You may also want to try Huperzine A which increases acetylcholine levels but using a different mechanism of action than the aforementioned choline supplements. Huperzine is a blocker of cholinesterase which causes the degradation of acetylcholine.
Any of the Racetams – especially Aniracetam or Oxiracetam – are also highly effective at increasing synaptic plasticity and improving both long-term and short-term memory capacity.
You may even want to consider building a memory boosting stack. Start with one of those Nootropics listed above and then gradually add others to the stack while carefully evaluating results. Building your supplement routine in such a way is logical and it will help you to obtain the best results.
Article last updated on: March 1st, 2018 by Nootriment
5 Comments
I like the wide variety of supplements you offer on your site as well as some of the information that is provided about them.
I am wondering if you have any citations on these results being effective from actual medical studies or experiments? All of the claims you make seem to just be linked to other pages on your site.
Thank you for this but in addition if i wanna start using alpha brain and oxiracetam where can i get them and what else do i have to add to the stack
Hey Leon,
If you want to get Alpha Brain you can but it from https://nootriment.com/buyalphabrain/
We’ve unfortunately had to remove the links to buy Oxiracetam from the site as this compound is not approved for use in dietary supplements in the US.
Let me know if you have any other questions and I’ll try to help.
Hi,
I want to purchase l theanine in India can you please assist me as to which company in India is manufacturing it and under what brand name.
Or alternatively please let me know if It can be shipped across to me.
Thanks
Hey Arunima,
Check out Absorb Health – they ship internationally :). You can get L-Theanine here.