Am J Psychiatry 1985; 142:455-459
Copyright © 1985 by American Psychiatric Association
State-dependent learning in hyperactive children receiving methylphenidate
A Becker-Mattes, JA Mattes, H Abikoff and L Brandt
State-dependent learning refers to a failure of learning mastered under one
drug condition to be remembered when tested under another drug condition.
Previous studies of state-dependent learning in hyperactive children
receiving stimulants have yielded conflicting results. The authors
systematically evaluated learning and transfer of learning in children who
were or were not receiving methylphenidate and included several design
features intended to optimize the likelihood of demonstrating
state-dependent learning. They found no evidence of state- dependent
learning. These results diminish concern regarding state- dependent effects
in hyperactive children who are positive drug responders and who are
clinically administered methylphenidate to control their hyperactivity.
