Non-specific effects of methylphenidate (ritalin) on cognitive ability and decision-making of ADHD and healthy adults
Abstract
Introduction The effect of a single dose of methylphenidate (MPH) on cognitive measures and decision-making processes was assessed in a sample of adults with ADHD and in a control sample.Methods Thirty-two adults satisfying DSM-IV criteria for ADHD and 26 healthy controls performed several cognitive tasks. Half of the participants received MPH prior to performing the tasks, and the other half received placebo in a randomized, double-blind manner.Results The average digit-span test score was higher in the groups receiving MPH compared to the groups receiving placebo, while diagnosis did not have an effect upon scores. In decision-making tasks, however, MPH did not have an effect upon performance, whereas in one of the tasks the average proportion of risky choices was higher in ADHD adults compared to controls.Conclusion Our data therefore demonstrates that (a) MPH is capable of enhancing specific aspects of cognitive performance and (b) this enhancement is not specific to ADHD.
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Another study provided mixed evidence for differences between the performance of ADHD individuals and NCs, in that only performance on the FPGT but not on the standard IGT was aberrant in adults with ADHD.
“Another study provided mixed evidence for differences between the performance of ADHD individuals and NCs, in that only performance on the FPGT but not on the standard IGT was aberrant in adults with ADHD [59].”
From Risky behavior in gambling tasks in individuals with ADHD–a systematic literature review (2013) · cites this paper as [59]
Agay et al. observed an increase in risky behavior of adults with ADHD in the FPGT.
“However, they did observe an increase in the risky behavior of their participants in the IGT variant called the ‘Foregone Payoff Gambling Task’ (FPGT).”
From Risky behavior in gambling tasks in individuals with ADHD–a systematic literature review (2013) · cites this paper as [59]
No effects of MPH were found on the performance of adults with ADHD or NCs on the standard IGT or the FPGT.
“No effects of MPH were found on the performance of adults with ADHD or in NCs on the standard IGT or the FPGT.”
From Risky behavior in gambling tasks in individuals with ADHD–a systematic literature review (2013) · cites this paper as [59]
Agay et al. found no aberrant performance of adults with ADHD on the standard IGT.
“Conversely, Agay et al. [59] found no aberrant performance of adults with ADHD on the standard IGT.”
From Risky behavior in gambling tasks in individuals with ADHD–a systematic literature review (2013) · cites this paper as [59]
In the FPGT, adults with ADHD chose the disadvantageous decks more often than NCs.
“In the FPGT, adults with ADHD chose the disadvantageous decks more often than NCs.”
From Risky behavior in gambling tasks in individuals with ADHD–a systematic literature review (2013) · cites this paper as [59]
Only one study out of eight that examined implicit gambling tasks investigated the effects of MPH on gambling task performance in adults with ADHD and found no evidence for an effect of MPH.
“Only one study out of these eight that examined implicit gambling tasks investigated the effects of MPH on gambling task performance in adults with ADHD and found no evidence for an effect of MPH [59].”
From Risky behavior in gambling tasks in individuals with ADHD–a systematic literature review (2013) · cites this paper as [59]
The other study revealed no effects of MPH on performance on a gambling task in adults with and without ADHD.
“the other study revealed no effects of MPH on the performance on a gambling task in adults with and without ADHD [59]”
From Risky behavior in gambling tasks in individuals with ADHD–a systematic literature review (2013) · cites this paper as [59]
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- Authors
- Agay, N., Yechiam, E., Carmel, Z., & Levkovitz, Y.
- Affiliations
- Technion – Israel Institute of Technology (IL)
- Tel Aviv University (IL)
- Corresponding author
- Yechiam, Eldad
- ORCID
- Yechiam, Eldad
- Venue
- Psychopharmacology
- Published
- 2010-04-28
- Volume
- 210
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 511-519
- ISSN
- 0033-3158 (ISSN-L)
- 1432-2072
- OpenAlex
- W2063906089
- Cited by
- 101
- References
- 50
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 6 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 6.54
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Psychopharmacology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neuroethics, Human Enhancement, Biomedical Innovations
- Keywords
- methylphenidate, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, cognitive enhancement, decision-making, decision making under risk, digit span, placebo effect, adult ADHD
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Cognition, Decision Making, Double-Blind Method, Female, Humans, Male, Methylphenidate, Middle Aged, Placebos
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