Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by tranchms 1090 days ago
I mean, this is not a very convincing study.

State dependent learning is a legitimate phenomenon.

This study didn’t test those who regularly took cognitive enhancers It just looked at people who were not ADHD and then gave them a drug No time to adjust or adapt Would have liked to see four populations tested.

1. unmedicated ADHD 2. medicated ADHD 3. Unmedicated non-ADHD 4. Medicated Non-ADHD

Then do the tests with placebos and cognitive enhancers

If you study for a test on medication you better take the test on medication.

And if you study unmedicated, you better take the test unmedicated I think they should find “non-ADHD” populations who happen to routinely take cognitive enhancers and then perform the same test.

Would be willing to bet that there is an improvement over placebo group vs medicated group in this population

If coffee and nicotine are effective cognitive enhancers for general populations, regardless of ADHD or not, it’s silly to think that stimulants like amphetamines are ineffective

So the research conclusions are flimsy and incomplete

1 comments

I perceive their main point could be made with a single focus on the 3rd option you suggest. Other options might fall out of their aim?