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+--- Thread: Article 'Smart drugs' make you worse at solving complex problems, new study finds (/thread-14240.html)
'Smart drugs' make you worse at solving complex problems, new study finds - C C - Jun 15, 2023
https://theconversation.com/smart-drugs-make-you-worse-at-solving-complex-problems-new-study-finds-207711
INTRO: Financial services workers, medical students and others working in highly competitive environments are using so-called “smart drugs” to enhance cognitive performance.
Do they actually work? Some of these drugs, such as methylphenidate (aka Ritalin) and dextroamphetamine, have been used successfully as part of treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but less is known about their effect on people who do not have ADHD.
Users may report a subjective feeling of cognitive enhancement, but it has been less clear whether this corresponds to objective improvements in performance.
In a new study, we examined the effect of three common “smart drugs” on cognitive performance, and our results suggest the drugs are not so smart after all. Users expended more cognitive effort and showed more frantic activity, but in general the drugs made their output worse... (MORE - details)