Effects of modafinil on attention performance, short-term memory and executive function in university students: a randomized trial.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Modafinil is a drug developed and used for the treatment of excessive lethargy. Even though very effective for sleep disorders, it is still controversial whether modafinil can improve performance in high-order cognitive processes such as memory and executive function.

METHODS:

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial was designed to evaluate the effect of modafinil (compared to placebo) on the cognitive functions of healthy students. 160 volunteers were recruited and allocated randomly to modafinil or placebo group, and were assessed using the Stroop Test, BCET test and Digit span test.

RESULTS:

We found a significant difference in favor of modafinil compared to placebo in the proportion of correct answers of Stroop Test in congruent situation. A significant shorter latency of modafinil group in the incongruent situation of Stroop test was also found. No differences were found in Digit Span, or BCET tests.

CONCLUSIONS:

The study demonstrated that modafinil does not enhance the global cognitive performance of healthy non-sleep deprived students, except regarding non-demanding tasks. In particular, this drug does not seem to have positive effects on mental processes that sustain studying tasks in the college population under normal conditions. We expect these findings to demystify the use of this drug and help decision making concerning pharmacological public policies.

• Authors: Alejandro Fernández, Franco Mascayano, Walter Lips, Andrés Painel, Jonathan Norambuena, Eva Madrid
• Journal: Medwave (Medwave) Vol. 15 Issue 5 Pg. e6166 (Jun 30 2015) ISSN: 0717-6384 [Electronic] Chile
• PMID: 26135067 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Benzhydryl Compounds
• Wakefulness-Promoting Agents
• Modafinil

Topics

• Adolescent
• Attention (drug effects)
• Benzhydryl Compounds (pharmacology)
• Cognition (drug effects)
• Cross-Over Studies
• Decision Making
• Double-Blind Method
• Executive Function (drug effects)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Memory, Short-Term (drug effects)
• Modafinil
• Stroop Test
• Students
• Universities
• Wakefulness-Promoting Agents (pharmacology)
• Young Adult