What are some drugs that improve memory?

Psycho-stimulant drugs can temporarily improve memory and cognition, notes MIT Press Journals. Prescription stimulants, such as amphetamine and methylphenidate, provide a modest performance increase in working memory, short-term episodic memory, and delayed episodic memory, states MIT Press Journals.

Caffeine, found naturally in coffee, provides positive effects on memory, reports Johns Hopkins University. Caffeine is shown to improve memory for up to 24 hours after consumption by healthy volunteers. Nicotine, found in tobacco, improves attention and working memory, states Discover magazine. Lastly, the wakefulness-promoting drug modafinil is shown to improve working memory in healthy subjects, notes National Center for Biotechnology Information.