10 replies to this topic

[theblob]

A jan 2013 study abstract:

Modafinil effects on cognition and emotion in schizophrenia and its neurochemical modulation in the brain, Abstract (OD: jan.2013): “Modafinil is a central nervous system wake promoting agent used for the treatment of excessive daytime sleeping. Its vigilance promoting properties and low abuse potential has intrigued the scientific community and has led to use it as a cognitive enhancer, before its neural functions were understood. Here, we review the effects of modafinil in human cognition and emotion and its specific actions on symptoms in patients with schizophrenia and whether these are consistently effective throughout the literature. We also performed a systematic review on the effects of modafinil on neurotransmitter signalling in different areas of the brain in order to better understand the neuromechanisms of its cognitive and emotional enhancing properties. A review of its effects in schizophrenia suggests that modafinil facilitates cognitive functions, with pro-mnemonic effects and problem solving improvements. Emotional processing also appears to be enhanced by the drug, although to date there are only a limited number of studies. The systematic review on the neurochemical modulation of the modafinil suggests that its mnemonic enhancing properties might be the result of glutamatergic and dopaminergic increased neuronal activation in the hippocampus and in the prefrontal cortex respectively. Other neurotransmitters were also activated by modafinil in various limbic brain areas, suggesting that the drug acts on these brain regions to influence emotional responses. These reviews seek to delineate the neuronal mechanisms by which modafinil affects cognitive and emotional function. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled ‘Cognitive Enhancers’.”


google this:
Linda Scorielsa, Peter B. Jonesa, Barbara J. Sahakian. Modafinil effects on cognition and emotion in schizophrenia and its neurochemical modulation in the brain. Neuropharmacology Volume 64, January 2013, Pages 168–184.

image: CLICK TO ENLARGE AND SEE THE GREAT INTEL:

Attached Files

•  Neuropharmacology Vol 64 Modafinil improves cognition via glutamatergic and dopaminergic activation in the hippocampus and the PFC.jpg   94.86KB   169 downloads

Edited by theblob, 17 May 2013 - 03:12 AM.

[peakplasma]

This was a pretty good thread and I hate to see it ignored.

Does anyone have the full paper by any chance?

[splitastone]

Here you go.

Attached Files

•  1-s2.0-S0028390812003474-main.pdf   941.98KB   48 downloads

[DamnedOwl]

The whole edition of the journal from which that article is taken is available from this website as their current 'sample issue'.

It's from the special edition (entitled 'Cognitive Enhancers: molecules, mechanisms and minds') of Neuropharmacology.

[paul]

Thanks DammedOwl, a lot of reading there, very interesting, I recently bought 100 4 mg nicotine gums which I found very helpful especially combined with the race tams. some of these papers back this up, am also pleased with the results they have found regarding chronic caffeine use since its so easily available and I drink gallons of the stuff!

[8bitmore]

The whole edition of the journal from which that article is taken is available from this website as their current 'sample issue'.

It's from the special edition (entitled 'Cognitive Enhancers: molecules, mechanisms and minds') of Neuropharmacology.

Seriously nice find. I did a little work and found all the articles that pertain directly to Modafinil, here's the list, I think there's some really interesting stuff here:

21.Modafinil effects on cognition and emotion in schizophrenia and its neurochemical modulation in the brain.pdf
42.Inhibitory effects of modafinil on emotional memory in mice.pdf
44.Association of a deficit of arousal with fatigue in multiple sclerosis - Effect of modafinil.pdf
54.Modafinil, but not escitalopram, improves working memory and sustained attention in long-term, high-dose cocaine users.pdf
56.Effects of modafinil on non-verbal cognition, task enjoyment and creative thinking in healthy volunteers.pdf

[Patrick Sylvester]

INCREASED DECREASED
Dopamine GABA
Noradrenaline
Glutamate
Serotonin
Histamine
Orexin

that's a lot of increases.
funny how the only thing decreased is GABA which is what all racetams are ultimately derived from if not mistaken (GABA > Piraceatam > racetam derivitaves.)
could this be a perceptual decrease because everything else is increased and GABA is baseline?

[chris106]

INCREASED DECREASED
Dopamine GABA
Noradrenaline
Glutamate
Serotonin
Histamine
Orexin

that's a lot of increases.
funny how the only thing decreased is GABA which is what all racetams are ultimately derived from if not mistaken (GABA > Piraceatam > racetam derivitaves.)
could this be a perceptual decrease because everything else is increased and GABA is baseline?

Indeed very interesting. Would the decrease in GABA explain the side effects like emotional dulling and decrease of empathy that many people report? Or do these solely originate from the moda-associated sleep deprivation?

I recently had great success in combining Modafinil with Ashwaganda. I guess since it's a GABA agonist it somewhat canceled out the GABA decreasing effects of Moda, at least for a few days I had a stable balance of Moda's stimulating, wake promoting effects - while still being emotionally responsive and quite mellow.

Would this combination also prevent the GABA downregulation that Ashwagandha usually causes? Because that would make this the perfect mix...

Edited by chris106, 09 July 2013 - 08:22 PM.

[norepinephrine]

If ashwagandha causes any GABA down-regulation, it's likely very minor and temporary based on the existing evidence.

On that note, I've noticed positive synergy combining modafinil with bacopa, and have also fund loading magnesium before and during plays a giant role in how well I respond to it - i.e., less side effects, and I'm actually able to get more than 2 hours of sleep at the end of the night. Of course, magnesium is a major player in the biochemical game, and an obvious choice for anxiolysis if a deficiency exists.

[chris106]

If ashwagandha causes any GABA down-regulation, it's likely very minor and temporary based on the existing evidence.

On that note, I've noticed positive synergy combining modafinil with bacopa, and have also fund loading magnesium before and during plays a giant role in how well I respond to it - i.e., less side effects, and I'm actually able to get more than 2 hours of sleep at the end of the night. Of course, magnesium is a major player in the biochemical game, and an obvious choice for anxiolysis if a deficiency exists.

I read the whole study today, and damn - what an interesting read it was

You are probably right about the GABA downregulation from Ashwagandha not being significant. Still, since Modafinil inhibits GABA, additional Ashwagandha should just raise it back to baseline anyways... and it allmost seems obvious to me that the often reported side-effects from consecutive Moda-use can only originate from long time GABA inhibition.
So trying to add various GABAergics to the mix to prevent these side effects seems like an interesting experiment to me, and to my knowledge hasn't been extensively tried before...

However, regarding Modafinil's effectiveness and long term use - right now I'm still experimenting with the right Moda dose and various combinations with basic supplements, keeping a detailed daily journal about effects and possible causes.
Still not quite sure why, but on some days it works just way better than others - even though I'm taking it continously without pauses right now, and allways make sure to get the same amount of sleep. (at least 6 hours every night, not taking Moda after 12 noon)

I think it has something to do with not letting your catecholamine-precursors and cofactors getting depleted. Since as seen in the study, Modafinil raises pretty much all of them in various areas of the brain pretty much all the time... I definetely notice a difference when finicking around with L-Tyrosine or (D)L-Phenylalanine and L-Tryptophan...
Also, adding Rhodiola Rosea today seemed to prolong the effects, probably due to the mild MAOI...

However, my collected data is still inconclusive at this point. As soon as I can make sense of it all, I'll report back about it here. I think I'm definetely on to something in that regard. There has to be a simple reason why so many people report Modafinil suddenly pooping out on them after working like a charme for weeks or even months, or getting the "Modafinil stoopids".
And the information gathered from this study should finally help to determine what causes that!

Besides, I remember reading somewhere that magnesium may actually inhibit Modafinil's positive effects to some degree when taken during the day. I will search for the source tomorrow and post it here.

Also, interesting find about Bacopa! I still have a full bottle lying around, since it - just like Ashwagandha - did nothing for me but make me tired when taken by itself. So I wil try adding Bacopa instead of Ashwagandha these days, and see if I notice the same effects!

Edited by chris106, 11 July 2013 - 08:29 PM.

[Hotforpips]

Bump...anyone anything to add on adding bacopa or ashwagandha to mod or Armod use?

I've been using bacopa every night for about 6 months but only recently added 75mg armod so I don't know what effect it might be having.

Good study interesting reading