methylphenidate

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methylphenidate

·December 13, 2018·6 min read

Ritalin Drives Greater Connection Between Brain Areas Key to Memory and Attention

A new neuroimaging study reveals methylphenidate, better known as Ritalin, increases the level of dopamine available in the caudate. Along with increased dopamine levels, researchers also notice greater functional connectivity between the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and precuneus, three areas of the brain associated with memory and attention.

The image shows a brain made out of chocolate.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 24, 2013·2 min read

Pleasure Response From Chocolate: You Can See it in the Eyes

According to a new study, the brain's pleasure response to tasting food may be measured through the eyes by using ERG.

This image shows the serotonin pathway in the brain.

Featured Psychology

·July 11, 2013·3 min read

Extroverts Have More Sensitive Brain-Reward System

Extroverts brain's release more dopamine, giving them more reason to be excited and engaged in the world, a new study suggests.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·August 13, 2019·4 min read

ADHD medication may affect brain development in children

Methylphenidate, a drug given to help treat ADHD, affects specific tract in white matter in young boys. The effects are age dependant as the changes were not observed in adults who use the treatment. Researchers say the drug should only be given to children if they are significantly affected by ADHD in their daily lives.

Image shows a woman drinking a cup of coffee.

Featured Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·January 13, 2016·2 min read

Struggling to Keep Your Fitness Resolution? Have a Cup of Coffee

A new study reports a simple cup of coffee could be key to helping people stick to their fitness plans.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·September 27, 2022·3 min read

Mechanisms of Psychostimulants on Attention and Learning Revealed

Psychostimulants increase dopamine levels, enhancing task-relevant cortical signals by acting on the striatum and the difference in dopamine synthesis capacity in the striatum explains the variability in the drugs' cognitive effects.

This shows the mPFC and striatum highligted on a brain scan

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·January 17, 2020·5 min read

Rich rewards: ADHD medication’s effect on the brain

Methylphenidate may boost norepinephrine levels in the prefrontal cortex, which in turn regulates dopaminergic neurons firing in the striatum, when a reward is delivered. The study sheds new light on how medications for ADHD affect the reward system in the brain.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 25, 2019·3 min read

Ritalin Has No Effect on Primate Prefrontal Cortex

Even at doses that help improve monkeys' attention, researchers observe no differences of neural activity in the prefrontal cortex after administering Ritalin.

Featured Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·November 3, 2015·2 min read

Psychoactive Medications Could Help Sedentary People to Exercise

A new study reports psychoactive medications may have positive implications in encouraging sedentary people to exercise.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 15, 2017·4 min read

Non-Prescription Use of Ritalin Linked to Adverse Side Effects

Researchers report changes in brain chemistry in people who take the medication Ritalin without it being prescribed to them. Changes impacted body weight, risk taking behaviors and locomotive activity. Additionally, women were more sensitive to the behavioral effects that men.

The image shows an obesity table with height and associated weight compared.

Featured Psychology

·February 19, 2013·3 min read

Is There a Link Between Childhood Obesity and ADHD?

New research has established a possible link between high-fat diets and such childhood brain-based conditions as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and memory-dependent learning disabilities.