University of Texas Health Science Center Researcher Yields New Data on Central Nervous System Agents [Methylphenidate (Ritalin) affects serotonin signaling differently in young compared to adults. Concomitant behavioral and neuronal recording...].

A recent study conducted at the University of Texas Health Science Center examined the effects of methylphenidate (Ritalin) on serotonin signaling in young and adult rats. Methylphenidate is commonly prescribed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The study found that the responses to acute and chronic methylphenidate were significantly different between the two age groups. The research suggests that it is important to evaluate the electrophysiological responses to a drug based on the animal's behavioral response to chronic drug exposure, and that the dorsal raphe nucleus and serotonin signaling play a significant role in the response to methylphenidate, with different effects in young and adult rats. [Extracted from the article]