Modafinil and Learning and Memory- Is there a Connection? Evaluation of the Effect of Modafinil on Learning and Memory in Wistar Rats

ABSTRACT

Background: Modafinil, a drug approved for use innarcolepsy, has shown conflicting effects on cognition.This study was conducted to observe the effects ofModafinil on learning and memory following acute andchronic administration in Wistar rats. Aim andObjectives: To observe the effects of Modafinil onlearning and memory following acute and chronicadministration. Material and Methods: The studyconducted in 42 male Wistar rats, had seven groupsGroup I Control, Group II Negative Control(Vehicle), Group III Standard Control (Donepezil),Group IV Chronic Modafinil 10 mg/kg, Group VChronic Modafinil 20 mg/kg, Group VI AcuteModafinil 10 mg/kg, Group VII Acute Modafinil 10mg/kg. All drugs were administered for 15 days.th Scopolamine was used to induce amnesia on the 15day in all groups except Group I. Using the HebbWilliam maze, baseline learning score was recorded onday 1, and post-treatment learning scores wererecorded on days 15 and 16. Results: On days 15 and16, the learning scores significantly decreased in GroupI, while it significantly increased in group II, comparedto baseline, indicating induction of amnesia byscopolamine. In Group III the learning scores on days15 and 16 (8.66 ± 2.63, 9.66 ± 2.75, in seconds) weredecreased significantly compared to baseline (18.83 ±2.65), indicating a reversal of scopolamine-inducedamnesia. All doses of Modafinil (Acute 10 mg and 20mg/kg, Chronic 10 mg and 20 mg/kg) showed astatistically significant increase in learning scores ondays 15 and 16, compared to baseline, indicating noreversal of scopolamine-induced amnesia. Conclusion:Modafinil in doses of 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg, giveneither as a single dose or over a period of time, does notreverse amnesia induced by scopolamine in rats.