Use of Mind Stimulating Drugs May Backfire
Those who use drugs like methylphenidate and dextroamphetamine, branded as Ritalin and Dexedrine, to think faster, work longer, and get better test scores can actually handicap their performance. University of Melbourne neuroscientists report this finding after testing 40 subjects, ages 18 to 35 years, in a randomized, double-blinded trial.
There tabulated data showed that the medicated subjects consistently performed only 50% of the tasks on a so-called knapsack test efficiently. The drugs failed to improve the chances of correct answers, and they increased the time the subjects required to complete a task. The researchers found that this suboptimal performance was due to a diminished quality of effort.
Methylphenidate, branded as Ritalin and Concerta, and dextroamphetamine, branded as Dexedrine, are effective medications for those with attention deficits and hyperactivity disorders. We now know that those without such cognitive issues are outsmarting themselves by taking these drugs in an effort to turbocharge their minds.
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.add4165
#Methylphenidate #dextroamphetamine #adhd #stimulants #testing
There tabulated data showed that the medicated subjects consistently performed only 50% of the tasks on a so-called knapsack test efficiently. The drugs failed to improve the chances of correct answers, and they increased the time the subjects required to complete a task. The researchers found that this suboptimal performance was due to a diminished quality of effort.
Methylphenidate, branded as Ritalin and Concerta, and dextroamphetamine, branded as Dexedrine, are effective medications for those with attention deficits and hyperactivity disorders. We now know that those without such cognitive issues are outsmarting themselves by taking these drugs in an effort to turbocharge their minds.
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.add4165
#Methylphenidate #dextroamphetamine #adhd #stimulants #testing