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 .
Behavioral and subjective effects of d-amphetamine and modafinil in healthy adults.
Modafinil is indicated for the management of excessive daytime sleepiness ; however , recent studies have examined a broad range of potential uses . Given that clinical uses of modafinil may be exp and ing , this study compared modafinil and d-amphetamine effects on subjective and performance measures . Across 11 sessions , 11 healthy adults were tested after oral doses of placebo ( 5 sessions ) , modafinil ( 1.75 mg/kg , 3.50 mg/kg , or 7.00 mg/kg ) , and d-amphetamine ( 0.035 mg/kg , 0.070 mg/kg , 0.140 mg/kg ) under double-blind , r and omized conditions . Assessment s of cognitive performance and subjective effects were completed before drug administration , 30 min after drug administration , and at hourly intervals after drug administration for 5 hr . Modafinil increased ratings on the Amphetamine and Morphine Benzedrine Group scales of the Addiction Research Center Inventory ( ARCI ) and increased ratings on the Vigor and Total Positive scales of the Profile of Mood States .  d-Amphetamine increased visual analog ratings of feeling stimulated and liking the drug and increased ratings on the Morphine Benzedrine Group scale of the ARCI . Both medications significantly reduced visual analog scale ratings of feeling sleepy , and modafinil decreased ratings on the ARCI Pentobarbital-Chlorpromazine-Alcohol Group scale . Both medications sustained performance that deteriorated across time on the Sternberg Number Recognition Test . Modafinil also enhanced performance rate on the Digit-Symbol Substitution Task above baseline levels and increased response rate on the Repeated Acquisition of Response Sequences Task . These results suggest that modafinil engenders alerting effects and increases performance in healthy non-sleep-deprived individuals comparable with that of d-amphetamine
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 .