The Effect of Modafinil on Affective and Cognitive Processing

The Effect of Modafinil on Neural Processing During the Interference and Feedback Based Learning Task

The study aims to examine whether a single dose of modafinil (200mg, p.o.) can affect feedback-based learning and interference processing in healthy male subjects.

Based on previous animal and human research suggesting a catecholamine-mediated, potentially pro-cognitive, mechanism of action of modafinil, the present study seeks to explore effects of modafinil on feedback-based learning and interference processing in healthy subjects. To this end, the present randomized double-blind, between-subject, placebo-controlled pharmaco-fMRI experiment plans to determine the behavioral and neural effects of a single dose of p.o.modafinil (200mg) versus placebo on validated feedback-based learning and emotional/non-emotional cognitive conflict paradigms. To control for potential effects of pre-medication personality traits as well as effects of modafinil on subjective task performance, subjects will be administered pre-treatment assessing relevant personality traits and post-treatment assessments of meta-cognitive confidence estimation.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy subjects without past or current psychiatric or neurological disorders
• Non-smokers
• Right-handedness

Exclusion Criteria:

• Medical or psychiatric illness
• Allergy against medications or general strong allergies
• Sleep disorders
• High blood pressure, general cardio-vascular alterations
• History of head injury
• Visual or motor impairments