A recent study conducted by the University of Cambridge has revealed that intelligent drugs, such as Ritalin, which are often used by individuals without ADHD to enhance their performance and concentration, can have the opposite effect. The study involved four double-blind, randomized trials, with 40 healthy participants taking either one of three popular intelligent drugs or a placebo. The cognitive performance of the participants was measured using the backpack optimization problem, which involves distributing items with different weights and values optimally in a backpack to maximize the overall value. The results showed that those who took the drugs experienced a decrease in accuracy and efficiency, as well as an increase in time and effort compared to their results without medication.
The study found that the drugs induced dopamine, which increased motivation and effort, but led to irregular thinking and a decrease in the quality of work produced over a longer period. The participants who took Methylphenidate took 50% longer to solve the backpack problem than those who took a placebo. Furthermore, those who performed better without medication experienced a greater decrease in performance and productivity after taking the drugs. The study suggests that the effectiveness of pharmaceutical enhancers on cognitive performance in neurotypical individuals for everyday complex tasks has not been established.
The results of the study indicate that intelligent drugs do not make individuals smarter, but rather motivate them to work harder, resulting in a decrease in the quality of work produced. The study highlights the need for further research to determine the effectiveness of pharmaceutical enhancers on cognitive performance in neurotypical individuals.
