The mnestic and antihypoxic effects of new derivatives of the quinolizidine alkaloid (−)-cytisine on acquisition of a conditioned passive avoidance reflex (CPAR) were studied in rats; effects on normobaric (jar) hypoxia were studied in mice. Screening studies showed that the benzamide and the N-(12-methylcytidin-3-yl)-N′-phenylurea not only improved learning and memory, but also increased the resistance of the brain to hypoxia.