Effects of Methylphenidate on Motor Skill Acquisition of Hyperactive Children

Abstract

This reports a study of the motor performance of 12 normal children and 12 hyperactive children with and without methylphenidate. The task required subjects to maintain their equilibrium on a square platform that rotated (+10 from horizontal) about a central axis. Subjects performed 30 trials at each of two testing sessions. Hyperactive subjects were receiving medication (methylphenidate) to control their hyperactivity on one of the test sessions, and a placebo on the other. The medicated hyperactive subjects performed more like their normal peers than did those receiving a placebo. This was true for both average performance scores and for consistency of performance.