We found that whilst most studies employing basic testing paradigms show that modafinil intake enhances executive function , only half show improvements in attention and learning and memory , and a few even report impairments in divergent creative thinking .
In contrast , when more complex assessment s are used , modafinil appears to consistently engender enhancement of attention , executive functions , and learning .
Importantly , we did not observe any preponderances for side effects or mood changes .
Modafinil is an FDA -approved eugeroic that directly increases cortical catecholamine levels , indirectly upregulates cerebral serotonin , glutamate , orexin , and histamine levels , and indirectly decreases cerebral gamma-amino-butrytic acid levels .
In addition to its approved use treating excessive somnolence , modafinil is thought to be used widely off-prescription for cognitive enhancement .
However , despite this popularity , there has been little consensus on the extent and nature of the cognitive effects of modafinil in healthy , non-sleep-deprived humans .
Modafinil combined with cognitive training is associated with improved learning in healthy volunteers – A randomised controlled trial
Improving cognition in people with neuropsychiatric disorders remains a major clinical target . By themselves pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches have shown only modest effects in improving cognition . In the present study we tested a recently-proposed methodology to combine CT with a ' cognitive-enhancing ' drug to improve cognitive test scores and exp and ed on previous approaches by delivering combination drug and CT , over a long intervention of repeated sessions , and used multiple tasks to reveal the cognitive processes being enhanced . We also aim ed to determine whether gains from this combination approach generalised to untrained tests . In this proof of principle r and omised-controlled trial thirty-three healthy volunteers were r and omised to receive either modafinil or placebo combined with daily cognitive training over two weeks . Volunteers were trained on tasks of new- language learning , working memory and verbal learning following 200 mg modafinil or placebo for ten days . Improvements in trained and untrained tasks were measured . Rate of new- language learning was significantly enhanced with modafinil , and effects were greatest over the first five sessions . Modafinil improved within-day learning rather than between-day retention . No enhancement of gains with modafinil was observed in working memory nor rate of verbal learning . Gains in all tasks were retained post drug-administration , but transfer effects to broad cognitive abilities were not seen . This study shows that combining CT with modafinil specifically elevates learning over early training sessions compared to CT with placebo and provides a proof of principle experimental paradigm for pharmacological enhancement of cognitive remediation
We found that whilst most studies employing basic testing paradigms show that modafinil intake enhances executive function , only half show improvements in attention and learning and memory , and a few even report impairments in divergent creative thinking .
In contrast , when more complex assessment s are used , modafinil appears to consistently engender enhancement of attention , executive functions , and learning .
Importantly , we did not observe any preponderances for side effects or mood changes .
Modafinil is an FDA -approved eugeroic that directly increases cortical catecholamine levels , indirectly upregulates cerebral serotonin , glutamate , orexin , and histamine levels , and indirectly decreases cerebral gamma-amino-butrytic acid levels .
In addition to its approved use treating excessive somnolence , modafinil is thought to be used widely off-prescription for cognitive enhancement .
However , despite this popularity , there has been little consensus on the extent and nature of the cognitive effects of modafinil in healthy , non-sleep-deprived humans .