1 The electroencephalographic (EEG) effects of drugs interacting with dopaminergic and noradrenergic systems were studied in conscious rats. Power spectra (0-30 Hz) were recorded from electrodes implanted bilaterally in the prefrontal cortex. Drug effects on EEG power were calculated as the spectral power following drug administration divided by the spectral power after vehicle administration. 2 Dopaminergic agonists at low doses, (apomorphine 0.01 mg kg(-1) s.c., quinpirole 0.01 mg kg(-1) i.p.) and dopaminergic antagonists (haloperidol 1 mg kg(-1) i.p., raclopride 2.5 mg kg(-1) s.c.), which decrease dopaminergic transmission, induced an increase of EEG power. Conversely, dopaminergic agonists at higher doses (apomorphine 0.5 mg kg(-1) s.c., quinpirole 0.5 mg kg(-1) i.p.) which increase activation of postsynaptic D-2 and D-3 receptors, induced a decrease of EEG power. 3 The alpha(1)-adrenoceptor antagonists (phenoxybenzamine 0.64 mg kg(-1) s.c., prazosin 0.32 mg kg(-1) s.c.) and the alpha(2)-adrenoceptor agonists (UK 14303 0.05 mg kg(-1) s.c., clonidine 0.025 mg kg(-1) i.p.), which decrease noradrenergic transmission, induced an increase of EEG power. Conversely, the alpha(1)-adrenoceptor agonist, cirazoline (0.05 mg kg(-1) s.c.), the adrenergic agent modafinil (250, 350 mg kg(-1) i.p.) and alpha(2)-adrenoceptor antagonists (RX 821002 0.01 mg kg(-1) s.c., yohimbine 0.5 mg kg(-1) i.p.), which increase noradrenergic transmission, induced a decrease of EEG power. The effects of prazosin (0.64 mg kg(-1) s.c.) were dose-dependently antagonized by coadministration with modafinil and cirazoline, but not by apomorphine. 4 In conclusion, pharmacological modulation of dopaminergic and noradrenergic transmission may result in consistent EEG changes: decreased dopaminergic or noradrenergic activity induces an increase of EEG spectral power; while increased dopaminergic or noradrenergic activity decreases EEG spectral power.