Imaging the Effects of Methylphenidate on Brain Dopamine: New Model on Its Therapeutic Actions for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

摘要: Methylphenidate hydrochloride (MP) is an effective treatment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a common neurobehavioral of childhood onset characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and distractibility. blocks the dopamine transporters (DAT), main mechanism removing (DA) from synapse, believed to be involved in its therapeutic properties. However, mechanism(s) which increases DA improve symptomatology ADHD are not completely understood. Our studies dopaminergic effects MP human brain using positron emission tomography (PET) have shown that DAT, extracellular proportion level blockade rate release (modulated cell firing). These greater when given concomitantly with salient stimulus than neutral stimulus, documenting context dependency effects. Additionally, MP-induced associated enhanced perception as salient. We postulate MP's due part ability enhance magnitude induced stimuli themselves generate weak responses, enhancing their saliency attention interest they elicit. these would school performance.