title: Modafinil alters intrinsic functional connectivity of the right posterior insula: a pharmacological resting state fMRI study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Modafinil is employed for the treatment of narcolepsy and has also been, off-label, used to treat cognitive dysfunction in neuropsychiatric disorders. In a previous study, we have reported that single dose administration of modafinil in healthy young subjects enhances fluid reasoning and affects resting state activity in the Fronto Parietal Control (FPC) and Dorsal Attention (DAN) networks. No changes were found in the Salience Network (SN), a surprising result as the network is involved in the modulation of emotional and fluid reasoning. The insula is crucial hub of the SN and functionally divided in anterior and posterior subregions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a seed-based approach, we have now analyzed effects of modafinil on the functional connectivity (FC) of insular subregions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analysis of FC with resting state fMRI (rs-FMRI) revealed increased FC between the right posterior insula and the putamen, the superior frontal gyrus and the anterior cingulate cortex in the modafinil-treated group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Modafinil is considered a putative cognitive enhancer. The rs-fMRI modifications that we have found are consistent with the drug cognitive enhancing properties and indicate subregional targets of action.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01684306.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Imaging, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cera
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Imaging, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Armando
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tartaro
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Imaging, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy; Molecular Neurology Unit, Center of Excellence on Aging, University "G. d'Annunzio", Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy; Departments of Neurology and Pharmacology, Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States of America.
authors.forename: Stefano L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Sensi
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004644:Emotions / Q000187:drug effects; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D000077408:Modafinil; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D064690:Wakefulness-Promoting Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D018697:Nootropic Agents; D064690:Wakefulness-Promoting Agents; D000077408:Modafinil