Hi all,
Below is a question that student asked me after last night's lecture. Can anyone help me out with an answer?
Nina
Dr. Tarner,
I was just wondering about the effects of stimulant drugs and ADHD. ADHD already
has the hyper, energetic affect on individuals. I am ADHD which is why I ask these
questions all the time. If a person with hyperactivity is given a direct derivative
of speed (Concerta is my medication), why does that help us to "calm down" and be
able to focus on what is needed?
Two facts about amphetamines and related drugs:
1. They increase concentration. Truck drivers didn't take Benzedrine to go bounding all over the cab -- they took it to lock in on the road. 'Speed freaks' are noted for locking in on one task. So, the drug is being prescribed for its typical (nothing paradoxical) effect on behavior.
2. The effects of amphetamines are rate dependent. That is, they both increase the frequency of low-rate responses and decrease the frequency of high-rate responses.
Invoking another thread; on a fixed interval schedule they flatten the scallop. You see more responses at the beginning of the interval where there is usually a pause, and a lower rate of response at the end where there is a burst of high-rate responding.
It's also not clear that ADHD-diagnosed individuals are actually 'hyperactive'; it's more _what_ they do.
There's some evidence that methylphenidate increases susceptibility to reinforcement, thus making behavior more appropriate if the appropriate contingencies are in effect.
Is it just the more motivation point that you also
said in lecture? Also, are there any stimulant drugs out there, on the legal end of
things, that can help a person with ADHD to concentrate without the extra
hyperactiveness as an added "bonus"? Was going to ask during class but not everyone
is as interested as I am on this topic. Thank you for your time!
-- * PAUL K. BRANDON [EMAIL PROTECTED] * * Psychology Dept Minnesota State University * * 23 Armstrong Hall, Mankato, MN 56001 ph 507-389-6217 * * http://www.mnsu.edu/dept/psych/welcome.html *
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