Marrone, Giorgia (2025) Hacking Memory: The Effects of Caffeine and Modafinil on Hippocampus-Dependent Memory. Bachelor's Thesis, Biology.
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Abstract
In a society that values high cognitive performance, popular agents like caffeine and the prescription drug modafinil are used to reduce cognitive impairments caused by widespread sleep deprivation. This thesis explores their comparative and combined effects by analyzing their distinct molecular mechanisms and effects on hippocampal-dependent memory. The analysis shows fundamentally different neurochemical pathways: caffeine functions as an adenosine receptor antagonist, while modafinil blocks the dopamine transporter and influences the orexinergic system. This leads to complementary behavioral outcomes, with caffeine mainly improving memory consolidation and retrieval, whereas modafinil enhances attention and working memory. This study introduces a "temporal complementarity" model, suggesting that timed combined administration could optimize different memory phases. It also addresses key methodological issues, such as caffeine withdrawal effects and dose-dependent variability. The findings have important implications for developing targeted cognitive enhancement strategies for healthy and clinical populations. Future research should focus on controlled combination trials to confirm this synergy and evaluate its therapeutic potential.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Bachelor's Thesis) |
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| Supervisor name: | Havekes, R. and Meerlo, P. |
| Degree programme: | Biology |
| Thesis type: | Bachelor's Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Date Deposited: | 27 Jun 2025 09:59 |
| Last Modified: | 27 Jun 2025 09:59 |
| URI: | https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/35567 |
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