Demystifying the World of Nootropics

What are these ‘smart drugs’ and can they really improve your mental performance?

Illustration: Jon Han

In the 2011 film Limitless, Bradley Cooper plays a writer named Eddie Morra who has hit a rough patch. He’s struggling to complete his book and, due to his lack of success, his girlfriend leaves him. Then Morra has a chance encounter with an old acquaintance who…