Cited by 27Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorSleep and Work-Related FatigueNeuroethics, Human Enhancement, Biomedical Innovations

Modafinil improves attentional performance in healthy, non-sleep deprived humans at doses not inducing hyperarousal across species

Open access
Cope, Zackary A., Minassian, Arpi, Kreitner, Dustin, MacQueen, David A., Milienne-Petiot, Morgane, Geyer, Mark A., Perry, William, Young, Jared W.·2017·Neuropharmacology

Abstract

The wake-promoting drug modafinil is frequently used off-label to improve cognition in psychiatric and academic populations alike. The domain-specific attentional benefits of modafinil have yet to be quantified objectively in healthy human volunteers using tasks validated for comparison across species. Further, given that modafinil is a low-affinity inhibitor for the dopamine and norepinephrine transporters (DAT/NET respectively) it is unclear if any effects are attributable to a non-specific increase in arousal, a feature of many catecholamine reuptake inhibitors (e.g., cocaine, amphetamine). These experiments were designed to test for domain-specific enhancement of attention and cognitive control by modafinil (200 and 400 mg) in healthy volunteers using the 5-choice continuous performance task (5C-CPT) and Wisconsin Card Sort Task (WCST). An additional cross-species assessment of arousal and hyperactivity was performed in this group and in mice (3.2, 10, or 32 mg/kg) using species-specific versions of the behavioral pattern monitor (BPM). Modafinil significantly enhanced attention (d prime) in humans performing the 5C-CPT at doses that did not affect WCST performance or induce hyperactivity in the BPM. In mice, only the highest dose elicited increased activity in the BPM. These results indicate that modafinil produces domain-specific enhancement of attention in humans not driven by hyperarousal, unlike other drugs in this class, and higher equivalent doses were required for hyperarousal in mice. Further, these data support the utility of using the 5C-CPT across species to more precisely determine the mechanism(s) underlying the pro-cognitive effects of modafinil and potentially other pharmacological treatments.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.07.031

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  • Modafinil can improve both sustained and selective attention in healthy subjects.

    “It can improve both sustained and selective attention in healthy subjects116,117”

    From Paying attention to attention in depression (2019) · cites this paper as [116]

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  1. Heaton RK, 1993 WCST: Computer Version-2 Research Edition Manual. Psychological Assessment Resources, Odessa.

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Authors
Cope, Z. A., Minassian, A., Kreitner, D., MacQueen, D. A., Milienne-Petiot, M., Geyer, M. A., Perry, W., & Young, J. W.
Affiliations
  • University of California San Diego (US)
  • Utrecht University (NL)
Corresponding author
Young, Jared W.
Venue
Neuropharmacology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2017-10
Volume
125
Pages
254-262
ISSN
0028-3908 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2740180692
Cited by
27
References
61
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1
FWCI
1.20
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Neuropharmacology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Utrecht University Repository (Utrecht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Utrecht University Repository (Utrecht University) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • NIMH (R01MH104344-03, UH2MH109168–01, R01 MH071916, T32MH018399-30)
  • Veteran's Administration VISN 22 Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and Work-Related Fatigue
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neuroethics, Human Enhancement, Biomedical Innovations
Keywords
modafinil, attention, cognitive enhancement, hyperarousal, hyperactivity, cognitive control, dopamine transporter, norepinephrine transporter, cross-species comparison, mice, healthy volunteers
MeSH terms
Modafinil, Adolescent, Adult, Animals, Arousal, Attention, Benzhydryl Compounds, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Female, Humans, Male, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Neuropsychological Tests, Psychotropic Drugs, Young Adult, Executive Function

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