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Dopamine affects how brain decides whether a goal is worth the effort | National Institutes of Health (NIH)

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Medications ike methylphenidate (sold under the Ritalin and other brand names) are prescribed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD). These stimulants are also used by students without ADHD who hope to enhance their focus while studying. It’s unclear exactly how methylphenidate and similar drugs work as a study aid to improve mental performance. Methylphenidate works in part by blocking the reabsorption of the neurotransmitter dopamine—a chemical messenger involved in reward-seeking, movement, and motivation—by the brain’s neurons. This increases the amount of dopamine in the brain’s striatum, an area involved in motor function and reward. Previous studies have shown that increases in dopamine in the striatum can motivate people and rodents to perform harder physical tasks. Researchers suspected that dopamine might play a role in influencing how the brain evaluates whether a mental task is worth the effort. The team, co-led by Dr. Michael Frank from Brown University,

March 31, 2020 Dopamine affects how brain decides whether a goal is worth the effort At a Glance Researchers found that drugs like Ritalin may work as a study aid by shifting attention from the challenges of undertaking a difficult mental task to its rewards. The findings suggest that these medications work not by boosting cognitive ability, but by influencing motivation through the brain chemical dopamine. Image Some students without ADHD take medications like methylphenidate in the hope of enhancing their focus while studying. Aldomurillo / E+ via Getty Images

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