The effect of methylphenidate on information processing
Abstract
Models of information processing currently popular in cognitive psychology divide the reaction process into a series of discrete separable stages. The distinction between one stage and another is verified by the additive factors method (AFM) as defined by Sternberg (1969). Task factors that do not interact with each other are inferred to affect different stages. The distinction between stimulus evaluation stages and response selection stages has been supported by brain event related potential (ERP) studies. The latency of the P300 component of the ERP is sensitive to changes in stimulus complexity but not to to changes in response complexity. The focus of this research is to determine the effects of stimulant drugs on stages of information processing using both reaction time (RT) and P300 latency within an AFM framework. Four doses of methylphenidate (MP) were used in a within-subjects design to examine the effects of MP on stimulus and response processing. We found that MP speeds RT, and that this effect does not interact with the effect of stimulus complexity on RT. MP dose interacts with response complexity, the dose for optimal speeding varying with the level of complexity. The latency of P300 is increased by stimulus complexity, and not by response complexity, nor is it affected by MP. These results show that the stimulant drug acts on processes involved in response selection, rather than in stimulus evaluation. Individual differences in drug response are dose dependent, but also point to an effect on response processing.
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The effects of methylphenidate and related stimulant drugs in healthy individuals have been shown to be baseline-dependent; i.e. those subjects with relatively low performance levels exhibit greater benefit after the drug.
“The effects of methylphenidate and related stimulant drugs in healthy individuals have been shown to be baseline-dependent; i.e. those subjects with relatively low performance levels exhibit greater benefit after the drug (Naylor et al., 1985; Rogers et al., 1999; Mehta et al., 2000; Turner et al., 2003; Clatworthy et al., 2009).”
From A positron emission tomography study of nigro-striatal dopaminergic mechanisms underlying attention: implications for ADHD and its treatment (2013) · cites this paper as Naylor et al., 1985
It is consistent with a growing literature documenting baseline performance-dependent effects of stimulants and related drugs, which have been explained by a hypothesized inverted U-shaped function, whereby optimal catecholamine levels determine optimal performance, and levels along the curve at either side of the optimum are associated with impaired performance.
“It is also consistent with a growing literature documenting baseline performance-dependent effects of stimulants and related drugs, which have been explained by a hypothesized inverted U-shaped function, whereby optimal catecholamine levels determine optimal performance, and levels along the curve at either side of the optimum are associated with impaired performance (Robbins and Sahakian, 1979; N”
From A positron emission tomography study of nigro-striatal dopaminergic mechanisms underlying attention: implications for ADHD and its treatment (2013) · cites this paper as Naylor et al., 1985
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- Authors
- Naylor, H., Halliday, R., & Callaway, E.
- Affiliations
- Langley Porter Psychiatric Hospital and Clinics (US)
- Venue
- Psychopharmacology
- Published
- 1985
- Volume
- 86
- Issue
- 1-2
- Pages
- 90-95
- ISSN
- 0033-3158 (ISSN-L)
- 1432-2072
- OpenAlex
- W2062068487
- Cited by
- 57
- References
- 18
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 1.60
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Psychopharmacology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (MH22149)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Keywords
- methylphenidate, stimulants, information processing stages, P300 latency, reaction time, stimulus complexity, response complexity, response selection, stimulus evaluation, event-related potentials, dose dependence, individual differences in drug response
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Electroencephalography, Female, Humans, Individuality, Mental Processes, Methylphenidate, Models, Psychological, Practice, Psychological, Reaction Time
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