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The ginkgo tree (Ginkgo biloba) is remarkable in many ways. Although indigenous to Korea, China and Japan, the tree can be found in parks and along city sidewalks around the world. It may grow as high as 40 meters and live for more than 1,000 years. Ginkgo fossils have been dated as far back as 250 million years ago, and Charles Darwin referred to the tree as "a living fossil." Nowadays, however, the ginkgo's primary claim to fame is the extract obtained from its fan-shaped leaves. The use of ginkgo leaf extracts can be traced back for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine. Today Ginkgo biloba is perhaps the most widely used herbal treatment aimed at augmenting cognitive functions--that is, improving memory, learning, alertness, mood and so on. Ginkgo is especially popular in Europe; officials in Germany recently approved the extract for treating dementia. In the U.S. the National Institute on Aging is currently supporting a clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of ginkgo in treating the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. But is there any evidence that Ginkgo biloba can really improve cognitive functions? Information on most dietary supplements is based far more on folklore than on experimental findings. Because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not regulate herbal treatments, the manufacturers are not required to test the effectiveness or safety of their products. More attention to supplements such as Ginkgo biloba is clearly warranted; even if the products do not cause medical problems, they can be costly and may prevent patients from seeking more pragmatic treatments. In an attempt to close the gap in our knowledge, we have reviewed the experimental evidence both for and against the usefulness of Ginkgo biloba in enhancing brain functions.