Consent of Ernst & Young LLP

We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement (Form S-8) pertaining to the 1996 Stock Incentive Plan, the 1989 Incentive Stock Option, Nonqualified Stock Option and Stock Purchase Plan, the 1989 Special Nonqualified Stock Option and Stock Purchase Plan and the Executive Stock Plan of our report dated July 19, 2002, except for paragraph 5 of footnote 1 and paragraph 3 of footnote 6, for which the date is October 3, 2002, with respect to the financial statements of Cortex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. included in the Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended June 30, 2002.