Abstract
Rationale: The reinforcing effects of stimulant drugs are modulated by behavioral demands following drug administration. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the reinforcing effects of modafinil, a drug with purportedly low abuse potential, under different behavioral demands using a modified progressive-ratio procedure. Methods: The reinforcing effects of oral modafinil (0, 100, 200, and 400 mg) were assessed in six healthy adult volunteers under both performance and relaxation conditions. Performance sessions required volunteers to complete simple arithmetic problems for three 50-min blocks. Relaxation sessions required volunteers to sit quietly in a semireclined position in a darkened room for three 50-min blocks. Two sampling sessions (one performance and one relaxation session) always preceded two self-administration sessions (one performance and one relaxation session), and the order of performance and relaxation sessions was constant within a dose condition. Results: Modafinil significantly increased break point and number of capsules earned on the modified progressive-ratio procedure as an increasing function of dose under the performance, but not the relaxation, condition. Modafinil produced comparable stimulant-like subjective ratings under both the performance and relaxation conditions. Conclusion: The findings of the present experiment demonstrate that modafinil can function as a reinforcer and that the reinforcing effects of modafinil are influenced by behavioral demands following drug administration, similar to those of other stimulant drugs.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 186-193 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Psychopharmacology |
| Volume | 182 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Oct 2005 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Acknowledgements This research was supported by Grant DA12665 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (C.R.R.). The authors wish to thank Frances P. Wagner, RN, Michelle D. Gray, Jamie L. Haga, Derek E. Roe, Thomas E. Wooters, and Andrea R. Vansickel for their expert medical and technical assistance. The present experiment complied with all current laws in the USA.
Funding
Acknowledgements This research was supported by Grant DA12665 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (C.R.R.). The authors wish to thank Frances P. Wagner, RN, Michelle D. Gray, Jamie L. Haga, Derek E. Roe, Thomas E. Wooters, and Andrea R. Vansickel for their expert medical and technical assistance. The present experiment complied with all current laws in the USA.
| Funders | Funder number |
|---|---|
| National Institute on Drug Abuse | R01DA012665 |
Keywords
- Context
- Human
- Modafinil
- Performance and relaxation
- Progressive ratio
- Reinforcement
- Subject-rated effects
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pharmacology