To investigate the in vivo cognitive effects of syringic acid(SA), Y-maze and passive avoidance tests were performed in amyloid-β(Aβ)-induced cytotoxicity. Learning and memory impairment by Aβ neurotoxicity was partially recovered in Institute of Cancer Research(ICR) mice orally administered SA(10mg/kg of body weight). The SA treated group showed an inhibitory effect on acetylcholinesterase(AChE) that was extracted from mice brain tissue after in vivo tests. Aβ-induced oxidative stress was also examined by malondialdehyde(MDA) and 2',7,-dichlorofluorescein diacetate(DCF-DA) assays, and lipid peroxidation of brain homogenates and cellular oxidative stress were reduced by SA. In cell viability assays using 3-[4,5-dimethythiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide(MTT), lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) leakage, and caspase 3/7 activity, the SA treated group showed relatively effective protection against Aβ-induced neurotoxicity compared to the others. Consequently, these results suggest that SA in black soybean seed coat extract might improve cognitive function because of its neuronal cell protective effects against oxidative stress and the inhibitory effect of AChE as a cholinergic enzyme.