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 .
Effects on cognition and mood in postmenopausal women of 1-week treatment with Ginkgo biloba
In a double-blind , placebo-controlled study , postmenopausal women ( 53 - 65 years old ) were r and omly assigned to 7-day treatment with Ginkgo ( 120 mg/day , n=15 ) or matched placebo ( n=16 ) . They were given a battery of cognitive tests and measurements of mood and menopausal symptoms at baseline ( before treatment began ) and at the end of 7 days . The group treated with Ginkgo was significantly better than the placebo group in a matching-to- sample test of nonverbal memory , but the groups did not differ in immediate or delayed paragraph recall or in delayed recall of pictures . In a test of frontal lobe function ( rule shifting ) and in the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test ( PASAT ) ( which measures sustained attention but also involves frontal lobe function ) , the group treated with Ginkgo performed significantly better than the placebo group . However , the groups did not differ in a test of planning . The treatments did not differ in their effects on the volunteers ' ratings of menopausal symptoms , sleepiness , bodily symptoms or aggression . The benefits of Ginkgo on memory and frontal lobe function found in this study are modest but are unlikely to be secondary to major mood changes
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 .