A new class of compounds known to enhance attention span and alertness and facilitate learning and memory. The ampakines take their name from the glutamatergic ampa (Alpha-Amino-3-Hydroxy-5-Methyl-4-Isoxazolepropionic Acid) receptor, with which they strongly interact. They are being investigated as a potential treatment for a range of conditions involving mental disability and disturbances, such as alzheimer’s disease, parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, treatment-resistant depression, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), among others.