Experiments with white mongrel rats (both females and males) showed that nootropic substances, i.e. sodium hydroxybutyrate, pyracetam, oxyracetam, aniracetam, centrophinoxine, nooglutyl, mexydol, semax, amide L-pyroglutamyl-D-alanine, and MK-801, a specific noncontesting antagonist of the NMDA-receptor complex, significantly increased survivability of the animals following bilateral occlusion of the common carotid arteries. The nootrops prevented, partly or completely, mnestic disorders in the experimental rats. In contrast, MK-801 profoundly aggravated these disorders. Similar results were obtained with a model of hypoxic amnesia. Except for N-acetylglycine amide and amide L-pyroglutamyl-D-alanine, the nootrops fully or to a considerable extent blocked the development of mnestic disorders in hypoxic rats. The authors recommend novel nootrops (nooglutyl, mexidol, semax and GVS-111) for the pharmacological correction of mnestic disorders consequent to hypoxia or cerebral ischemia.