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Methylphenidate and cognitive flexibility: Dissociated dose effects in hyperactive children

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Abstract

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted to assess the acute effects of placebo and three doses of methylphenidate (MPH) (0.3, 0.6, 0.9 mg/kg) on cognitive flexibility and overt behavior in 28 children with a confirmed diagnosis of attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder. Two underlying cognitive processes (response inhibition and response reengagement) were assessed by measuring the probability and speed with which subjects could inhibit responses to a primary task (forced-choice letter discrimination) and immediately execute a response to a secondary task (simple reaction time) when given a signal to do so. Results indicated that MPH enhanced cognitive flexibility, although the high dose was less effective than lower doses in enhancing response inhibition. Dissociations of dose effects on cognitive function and behavior were demonstrated: Dose-response functions for changes in behavior were linear, whereas the function for response inhibition was U-shaped. Findings argue against the typical clinical practice of determining the response to stimulant treatment from a single measure such as parent report of child behavior.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychiatry Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, M5G 1X8, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Rosemary Tannock & Russell Schachar

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Illinois, Champaign, Illinois, USA

    Gordon Logan

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  1. Rosemary Tannock
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  2. Russell Schachar
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  3. Gordon Logan
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Additional information

This research was supported by funds from the Medical Research Council of Canada and Health and Welfare Canada. The authors would like to express their appreciation to Dr. Abel Ickowicz for conducting the diagnostic assessments and feedback sessions, and to Patricia Fulford and Karen Purvis for their valuable assistance. Also, we thank the anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on an earlier version of the manuscript.

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Tannock, R., Schachar, R. & Logan, G. Methylphenidate and cognitive flexibility: Dissociated dose effects in hyperactive children. J Abnorm Child Psychol 23, 235–266 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01447091

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