The interaction of Cognitive Control Mechanisms and Language Processing: An Investigation with Methylphenidate

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: Completed

Sex: Not specified

Target Recruitment: 40

Inclusion Criteria

Healthy volunteers between 18 and 45 years old;
Native Dutch speakers.
Right-handed

Exclusion Criteria

A potential subject who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:
• (History of) psychiatric treatment;
• (History of) psychosis or mania;
• (History of) neurological diseases (e.g. Parkinson, epilepsie);
• (History of) neurological treatment;
• (History of) endocrine treatment;
• (History of) cardiac or vascular diseases;
• (History of) blood illness (e.g. anemia, porphyria);
• (History of) endocrine / metabolic disease;
• (History of) of stomach or gastrointestinal tract disease;
• (History of) vasovagale reflex syncope;
• Experience of irregular sleep-wake rhythm;
• (History of) obstructive respiratory disease
• (History of) frequent autonomic failure (e.g. vasovagal reflex syncope);
• (History of) clinically significant renal or hepatic disease;
• (History of) epilepsy in adulthood (i.e. no insult after 18 years of age, no current medication for epilepsy, and no insult in the last five years);
• (History of) glaucoma;
• (History of) drug addication (e.g. opiate, (meth)amphetamine, lysergic acid diethylamide, cocaine, solvents or barbiturate) or alcohol dependence;
• One first degree or two or more second degree family members with a history of sudden death or ventricular arrhythmia;
• Problems slicking or problems with the esophagus ();
• Frequent experience of headrush (vertigo);
• Past or current treatment of hyperthyroidism;
• Current experience of an acute infection (e.g. fever);
• First degree family member with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder;
• Abnormal hearing or (uncorrected) vision;
• Use of psychotropic medication or recreational drugs weekly or more over a period of more than three months in the last 6 months;
• Use of drug within 2 weeks prior to the start of the study;
• Use of alcohol within the last 24 hours before each test session;
• Dependence on cannabis or weekly cannabis usage for the last 6 months;
• Strong smoking behaviour starting at more than 1 package of cigarettes per week;
• Hypersensitivity for e.g. beta blockers or methylphenidate;
• Previous use of Methylphenidate (Ritalin);
• Uncontrolled hypertension, defined as diastolic blood pressure at rest >95 mmHg or systolic blood pressure at rest >180 mmHg;
• Irregular sleep/wake rhythm (e.g. regular nightshifts or cross timeline travel);
• Possible pregnancy or breastfeeding;
• Lactose intolerance (because the placebo pill will be a lactose product);
• Language related disabilities (e.g. dyslexia, stuttering);
• Daily intense physical training.

Study & Design

Study Type: Interventional

Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
<p>Primary study parameters include participants' task behavioral performance<br /><br>(e.g. accuracy, reaction times) and electroencephalographic (EEG) measures.</p><br>

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
<p>Secondary study parameters include participants' baseline characteristics (e.g.<br /><br>working memory capacity, linguistic experience), and general processing speed.</p><br>