Department Neuropsychology & Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2014 Jun;17(6):961-77. doi: 10.1017/S1461145713001594. Epub 2014 Jan 15.
Methylphenidate (MPH), a stimulant drug with dopamine and noradrenaline reuptake inhibition properties, is mainly prescribed in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is increasingly used by the general population, intending to enhance their cognitive function. In this literature review, we aim to answer whether this is effective. We present a novel way to determine the extent to which MPH enhances cognitive performance in a certain domain. Namely, we quantify this by a percentage that reflects the number of studies showing performance enhancing effects of MPH. To evaluate whether the dose-response relationship follows an inverted-U-shaped curve, MPH effects on cognition are also quantified for low, medium and high doses, respectively. The studies reviewed here show that single doses of MPH improve cognitive performance in the healthy population in the domains of working memory (65% of included studies) and speed of processing (48%), and to a lesser extent may also improve verbal learning and memory (31%), attention and vigilance (29%) and reasoning and problem solving (18%), but does not have an effect on visual learning and memory. MPH effects are dose-dependent and the dose-response relationship differs between cognitive domains. MPH use is associated with side effects and other adverse consequences, such as potential abuse. Future studies should focus on MPH specifically to adequately asses its benefits in relation to the risks specific to this drug.
哌醋甲酯（MPH）是一种具有多巴胺和去甲肾上腺素再摄取抑制特性的兴奋剂，主要用于治疗注意力缺陷多动障碍，越来越多的普通人群在使用它，意图提高他们的认知功能。在这篇文献综述中，我们旨在回答这是否有效。我们提出了一种新的方法来确定 MPH 在特定领域增强认知表现的程度。具体来说，我们通过反映显示 MPH 增强认知效果的研究数量的百分比来量化这一点。为了评估剂量-反应关系是否遵循倒 U 形曲线，我们还分别量化了低、中、高剂量的 MPH 对认知的影响。这里回顾的研究表明，单剂量 MPH 可改善健康人群在工作记忆（包括研究的 65%）和处理速度（48%）领域的认知表现，并且在较小程度上也可能改善言语学习和记忆（31%）、注意力和警觉性（29%）和推理和解决问题（18%），但对视觉学习和记忆没有影响。MPH 的作用是剂量依赖性的，并且剂量-反应关系因认知域而异。MPH 的使用与副作用和其他不良后果有关，例如潜在的滥用。未来的研究应专门针对 MPH，以充分评估其相对于该药物特有的风险的益处。
