DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: - Previously treated for one of the following: - Hypothalamic tumor - Mid-line brain tumor - Tumor involving one or both thalami - Craniopharyngioma - Hydrocephalus secondary to a brain tumor or brain tumor that required placement of a permanent shunt - Completed cancer treatment ≥ 6 months ago - Has excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), as defined by a score of > 0.33 on the Extended Daytime Sleepiness subscale of the Pediatric Sleepiness Questionnaire (PSQ) AND a score of ≤ 0.33 on the Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders subscale of the PSQ - Has had symptoms of EDS for ≥ 3 months that are not a result of inadequate sleep hygiene or other medical disorder, as measured by either of the following: - Score ≥ 20 on the Pediatric Daytime Sleepiness Scale (for patients 8-10 years of age) - Score ≥ 43 on the Cleveland Adolescent Sleepiness Questionnaire (for patients 11-17 years of age) - No diagnosis of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder or EDS prior to receiving cancer treatment PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: - Proficient in English - Able to swallow capsules - Not pregnant or nursing - Negative pregnancy test - Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception - No history of a clinically significant drug sensitivity to methylphenidate, modafinil, armodafinil, or any of their components - No know cardiac disorders, including any of the following: - Arrhythmias - Hypertension requiring treatment - Structural heart disease - No clinical diagnosis of major depression, subclinical depression, or anxiety disorder - No history of psychosis or mania - No suicidal ideation - No history of substance abuse - No anemia, untreated hypothyroidism, mononucleosis, or narcolepsy - No total dietary intake of > 500 mg of caffeine per day (e.g., approximately ten 330 mL cans of soft drinks, five cups of coffee or tea, or 750 g of chocolate per day) PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: - See Disease Characteristics - No prior doxorubicin hydrochloride or high-dose cyclophosphamide - More than 90 days since prior methylphenidate or modafinil - No concurrent antihistamines, benzodiazepines, anticonvulsants, or alcohol - No concurrent oral birth control for contraception