Enhancing Operational Performance in Healthy Rested Soldiers with Pharmacological Stimulants

Considerable research has documented the optimization utility of stimulants in sleep deprived Soldiers and aviators, however, the research for enhancement purposes has demonstrated mixed results. One significant factor that may influence enhancement properties is general intelligence such that low performers exhibit stronger enhancement effects than high performers. The objectives of this study were to: 1) determine whether stimulants (specifically, modafinil and mixed amphetamine salts) can enhance Soldier cognitive abilities and performance on military tasks while controlling for baseline intelligence, and 2) to document adverse or undesirable side effects of each stimulant. To do so, a within-subjects design was employed using healthy, rested Soldiers and measuring performance on a set of basic cognitive assessments and operationally relevant tasks. Results show that mixed amphetamine salts may be effective at enhancing functional performance in healthy, rested Soldiers, specifically marksmanship. The study results, overall, do not provide support for 200 mg of modafinil enhancing performance in healthy, rested Soldiers.