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 .
Motor excitability and motor behaviour after modafinil ingestion – a double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over trial
Summary .Modafinil is a novel vigilance-enhancing agent . We were interested if modafinil would also enhance motor excitability and improve motor performance and attention in healthy subjects . Ten volunteers received either a single oral dose of placebo or 200 mg modafinil . A r and omized double-blind crossover design was used . Transcranial magnetic stimulation was employed to test intracortical inhibition , intracortical facilitation , the cortical silent period and to obtain stimulus-response curves . In addition , M responses and F waves were recorded . Reaction time tasks , the nine-hole-peg test and the d2 attention test were also applied . These studies were performed prior to and 3 and 24 hours after drug ingestion . Modafinil did not change excitatory or inhibitory properties in the motor cortex . It did not alter corticospinal excitability and alpha motoneuronal excitability . In the modafinil group and in the placebo group , performance of the nine-hole-peg test and the d2 test improved to a similar extend over time . Thus , this study does not demonstrate significant differences between a single dose of modafinil and placebo in healthy subjects
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 .