Differential effects of modafinil on performance of low-performing and high-performing individuals during total sleep deprivation

•Some people are more vulnerable to the effects of sleep loss than others.•Modafinil (200mg) administered to 22 men over 36 hours of continuous wakefulness.•Modafinil did not help the best performers compared to their performance with placebo.•The worst performers significantly improved after receiving modafinil compared to placebo.