Oxiracetam (2-(4-hydroxy-2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl)acetamide) is a member of the racetam family that carries a hydroxyl group at the 4-position of the pyrrolidinone ring found in piracetam. It is a racemic compound; a 2017 rat study identified the (S)-enantiomer as the active ingredient in a chronic cerebral hypoperfusion model. Preclinical studies have examined hippocampal neurotransmission in rat brain slices, cholinergic and learning models in rats and mice, cerebral hypoperfusion in rats and microglial inflammation in vitro. A multicentre clinical trial in post-stroke cognitive impairment has published its design.