The “Get Smart” Drug

In the more recent years of scholars, concern has spread with regard to the uses of “smart drugs”. “Smart Drugs” are forms of medication that is used to enhance the performance of the brain whilst studying and writing exams. These enhancers are often drugs that are used to treat various other disorders such as sleeping, memory and attention-deficit disorders. However these drugs are now being used of prescription, in this scenario, to ace various exams.

 

The efficacy of smart drugs used for this purpose has been largely anecdotal. But a new study from Oxford and Harvard suggests that the FDA-approved drug Modafinil initially used to treat Narcolepsy may indeed be the world’s first confirmed and legitimate smart drug.

 

The study, carried out by a team of researchers from Oxford and Harvard was actually a meta-analysis of twenty-four previous studies. By correcting the methodological inconsistencies among the previous studies, the new research that was derived from previous studies suggests that the drug Modafinil is highly effective when used for cognitive enhancements in humans. However these humans in question need to be in a good frame of health and also not suffering from any known sleep disorders. In other words, this specific form of medication can make you smarter when exams are around the corner. 

 

From the study abstract: “We found that whilst most studies employing basic testing paradigms show that Modafinil intake enhances executive function, only half show improvements in attention and learning and memory, and a few even report impairments in divergent creative thinking. In contrast, when more complex assessments are used, Modafinil appears to consistently engender enhancement of attention, executive functions, and learning.”

 

The relevant studies that were used in the new frame of research were published between the years of 1990 and 2014. These studies included a total of more than 700 participants in total. These studies were conducted in placebo-controlled groups. The studies suggest that taking Modafinil is effective and the relevant medical personal have confirmed that there is no evidence of long-term effects.