Modafinil Subjectively Does Not Impair Sleep in Aviators After a Period of Extended Wakefulness.

Modafinil is used as a countermeasure to limit the effects of fatigue in military aviation. However, literature is conflicting about its negative effects on subsequent sleep. This randomized placebo-controlled trial conducted by the Center of Man in Aviation of the Royal Netherlands Airforce is part of a larger study.

Daily Caffeine Intake and the Effect of Caffeine on Pilots' Performance After Extended Wakefulness.

Fatigue is a major contributor to aviation accidents. Sufficient sleep may be difficult to achieve under operational conditions in military aviation. Countermeasures include caffeine, however, studies evaluating its effects often do not represent daily practice with regular caffeine consumption.

Antihistamine induced blood oxygenation level dependent response changes related to visual processes during sensori-motor performance.

The histaminergic involvement in selective processes underlying its role in human sensori-motor performance is largely unknown. Recently, selective effects of central H₁-inverse agonism on sensory visual processes were observed in electrophysiological--but not behavioral data; a discrepancy suggested to result from speeded response-choice related processes. This study attempts to establish the effects on visual processes and identify putative compensatory mechanisms related to increased visual and response-choice task demands by assessing H₁-inverse agonism induced changes in blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) response.

Acute tryptophan depletion slows gastric emptying in females.

Serotonin (5-HT) is an important neurotransmitter involved in the brain-gut axis. It is possible to lower the 5-HT level in the body by means of a nutritional intervention using an amino acid mixture; the acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) method. We studied the effect of ATD on gastric emptying in healthy females, who received both ATD and placebo in a random order.

Mood, prolactin and cortisol responses following intravenous L-tryptophan challenge: evidence for serotonergic vulnerability in first-degree relatives of bipolar patients.

Central serotonergic vulnerability indicated by altered mood and neuroendocrine responses to an intravenous (i.v.) tryptophan (Trp) challenge was assessed in healthy adult unaffected first-degree relatives of bipolar disorder (BD) patients (n = 30) (family history; FH).