Abstract
This study investigated the effect of methylphenidate (Ritalin) on the selective attention of hyperactive children designated as favorable or adverse responders to stimulant medication. Using a type II incidental learning paradigm, it was found that children in the drug condition recalled more central and less incidental stimuli than those children in the placebo condition. While no differential effects on recall were found for responder type, methylphenidate did affect the spontaneous overt labeling of central stimuli by the favorable responder group. Results were interpreted in terms of the role of methylphenidate in narrowing the focus of attention. Implications for the classification of hyperactive children as favorable and adverse responders were also discussed.
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This paper is based on a master's thesis completed by the first author in the Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, under the supervision of the second author. The authors wish to thank J. Thomas Dalby for his assistance in the conducting of this experiment.
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Thurston, C.M., Sobol, M.P., Swanson, J. et al. Effects of methylphenidate (Ritalin) on selective attention in hyperactive children. J Abnorm Child Psychol 7, 471–481 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00917617
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00917617