Identifying and Treating Arousal Related Deficits in Neglect and Dysphagia

Inclusion Criteria: * Signed informed consent * Willingness to complete study procedures * Ability to comprehend and sign informed consent * Evidence of unilateral, ischemic stroke based on: * Neuroimaging (clinically obtained imaging studies showing evidence of stroke) * Acceptable categories of stroke include: * Unilateral ischemic stroke * Atherothrombotic stroke * Cardioembolic stroke * Lacunar stroke \>1.5 cm * Chronic stable, unilateral hemorrhagic stroke * Or Behavioral evidence of stroke including: * Hemiplegia * Unilateral sensory impairment * Localized higher cortical dysfunction (e.g. neglect,dysphagia, apraxia) Exclusion Criteria: * Cardiac valvular disease * Left heart hypertrophy * Poorly controlled hypertension * Active variant angina * Pre-menopausal women capable of having children, including those using active contraception (precaution for study medication and not applicable to normal subjects) * Severe renal or hepatic disease * History of psychosis or substance abuse * Patients on other Central Nervous System (CNS) stimulants, dopamine agonists or antagonists (antipsychotics) * Severe speech comprehension deficit and/or inability to communicate responses * Allergies that could put the research subject at risk during the course of the study * Cannot speak English * Active cerebral neurologic disease other than stroke such as multiple sclerosis or Alzheimer's Disease * Active psychiatric illness except past history of treated depression or anxiety disorders * For persons needing an MRI - standard MRI exclusion criteria (cardiac pacemaker or defibrillator, artificial heart valves, metallic aneurysm clips eye or ear implants, implanted insulin or infusion pumps, battery activated stimulators, and history of claustrophobia) * Concomitant medications excluded: Based on recommendations of manufacturer, the following concomitant medications are excluded: Tricyclic antidepressants and Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors. Any other CNS stimulation producing medications. Antifungal agents Itraconazole or Ketoconazole as plasma concentrations of modafinil may be increased. * Stroke patients will be excluded from the modafinil trial if they cannot swallow a capsule. * Stroke patients are excluded if they are able to become pregnant * Any other criteria that the PI or study physicians feel would put the volunteer's health at risk during the course of the study