A review of its effects in schizophrenia suggests that modafinil facilitates cognitive functions , with pro-mnemonic effects and problem solving improvements .
The systematic review on the neurochemical modulation of the modafinil suggests that its mnemonic enhancing properties might be the result of glutamatergic and dopaminergic increased neuronal activation in the hippocampus and in the prefrontal cortex respectively .
Other neurotransmitters were also activated by modafinil in various limbic brain areas , suggesting that the drug acts on these brain regions to influence emotional responses .
Modafinil is a central nervous system wake promoting agent used for the treatment of excessive daytime sleeping .
Its vigilance promoting properties and low abuse potential has intrigued the scientific community and has led to use it as a cognitive enhancer , before its neural functions were understood .
Here , we review the effects of modafinil in human cognition and emotion and its specific actions on symptoms in patients with schizophrenia and whether these are consistently effective throughout the literature .
We also performed a systematic review on the effects of modafinil on neurotransmitter signalling in different areas of the brain in order to better underst and the neuromechanisms of its cognitive and emotional enhancing properties .
Maintaining alertness and performance during sleep deprivation: modafinil versus caffeine
Abstract . Rationale : The performance and alertness effects of modafinil were evaluated to determine whether modafinil should replace caffeine for restoring performance and alertness during total sleep deprivation in otherwise healthy adults . Objectives : Study objectives were to determine ( a ) the relative efficacy of three doses of modafinil versus an active control dose of caffeine 600 mg ; ( b ) whether modafinil effects are dose-dependent ; and ( c ) the extent to which both agents maintain performance and alertness during the circadian trough . Methods : Fifty healthy young adults remained awake for 54.5 h ( from 6:30 a.m. day 1 to 1:00 p.m. on day 3 ) and performance and alertness tests were administered bi-hourly from 8:00 a.m. day 1 until 10:00 p.m. day 2 . At 11:55 p.m. on day 2 ( after 41.5 h awake ) , subjects received double blind administration of one of five drug doses : placebo ; modafinil 100 , 200 , or 400 mg ; or caffeine 600 mg ( n=10 per group ) , followed by hourly testing from midnight through 12:00 p.m. on day 3 . Results : Performance and alertness were significantly improved by modafinil 200 and 400 mg relative to placebo , and effects were comparable to those obtained with caffeine 600 mg . Although a trend toward better performance at higher modafinil doses suggested a dose-dependent effect , differences between modafinil doses were not significant . Performance enhancing effects were especially salient during the circadian nadir ( 6:00 a.m. through 10:00 a.m. ) . Few instances of adverse subjective side effects ( nausea , heart pounding ) were reported . Conclusions : Like caffeine , modafinil maintained performance and alertness during the early morning hours , when the combined effects of sleep loss and the circadian trough of performance and alertness trough were manifest . Thus , equivalent performance- and alertness-enhancing effects were obtained with drugs possessing different mechanisms of action . However , modafinil does not appear to offer advantages over caffeine ( which is more readily available and less expensive ) for improving performance and alertness during sleep loss in otherwise normal , healthy adults
A review of its effects in schizophrenia suggests that modafinil facilitates cognitive functions , with pro-mnemonic effects and problem solving improvements .
The systematic review on the neurochemical modulation of the modafinil suggests that its mnemonic enhancing properties might be the result of glutamatergic and dopaminergic increased neuronal activation in the hippocampus and in the prefrontal cortex respectively .
Other neurotransmitters were also activated by modafinil in various limbic brain areas , suggesting that the drug acts on these brain regions to influence emotional responses .
Modafinil is a central nervous system wake promoting agent used for the treatment of excessive daytime sleeping .
Its vigilance promoting properties and low abuse potential has intrigued the scientific community and has led to use it as a cognitive enhancer , before its neural functions were understood .
Here , we review the effects of modafinil in human cognition and emotion and its specific actions on symptoms in patients with schizophrenia and whether these are consistently effective throughout the literature .
We also performed a systematic review on the effects of modafinil on neurotransmitter signalling in different areas of the brain in order to better underst and the neuromechanisms of its cognitive and emotional enhancing properties .