Methylphenidate Effects on EEG, Behavior, and Performance in Boys With ADHD

• Published in: Pediatric neurology Vol. 18; no. 3; pp. 244 - 250
• Main Authors: Swartwood, Michie O., Swartwood, Jeffery N., Lubar, Joel F., Timmermann, DeAnna L., Zimmerman, Andrew W., Muenchen, Robert A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.03.1998; Elsevier
• Subjects: Analysis of Variance; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - drug therapy; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - psychology; Behavior - drug effects; Biological and medical sciences; Central Nervous System Stimulants - therapeutic use; Child; Electroencephalography - drug effects; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Methylphenidate - therapeutic use; Neuropharmacology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Psychoanaleptics: cns stimulant, antidepressant agent, nootropic agent, mood stabilizer..., (alzheimer disease); Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychomotor Performance - drug effects; Psychopharmacology; Human; CNS stimulant; Hyperactivity; Psychotropic; Male; Psychometrics; Cognition; Electroencephalography; Psychological effect; Spectral analysis; Electrodiagnosis; Chemotherapy; Attentional disorder; Treatment; Hyperactive child syndrome; Behavior; Mechanism of action; Child; Subtype; Methylphenidate
• ISSN: 0887-8994; 1873-5150
• DOI: 10.1016/S0887-8994(97)00205-1

The psychophysiologic and behavioral effects of methylphenidate were assessed in boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder between the ages of 9 and 11 years. The effects of methylphenidate on the EEG during baseline and cognitive tasks were evaluated using spectral analysis. Both subjective (rating scales) and objective (continuous performance) measures were administered and analyzed in conjunction with the electrophysiologic data. Although methylphenidate induced regional changes in the EEG under certain task-specific conditions, it had no global effects. Behavioral and performance measures improved with methylphenidate.