[Studying the nootropic effects of betamecil].

Comparative study of the effects of methyluracil and betamecil showed that a fourfold oral administration of betamecil in a dose of 10 mg/kg leads to a considerable increase in the orientation-and-search reaction in the open field test. This drug effect is retained for at least one week. Betamecil in doses of 10 and 100 mg/kg does not virtually alter the rate of conditioning of the food-seeking reflex with respect to the place in the T-shaped maze test (as compared to the control animals. However, certain acceleration of the learning process is observed as compared to the animals treated with methyluracil. The chronic administration of betamecil (for 18 days) results in improved preservation and reproduction of the previously conditioned food-seeking habit. Neither piracetam nor methyluracil produced such effects. The results suggest that betamecil in indicated doses exhibits a nootropic activity.