New paper: ‘Methylphenidate enhances or impairs the cognitive control of Pavlovian bias depending on working memory capacity‘

We are excited to share a new publication with Dirk Geurts and Roshan Cools on how catecholamines (i.e. dopamine and noradrenaline) shape decision-making!

In our study, 100 healthy participants played a game to assess automatic tendencies to act or hold back in positive or negative contexts. We found that boosting these neurotransmitters using methylphenidate helps people with low working memory control these urges, but makes them stronger in those with high working memory.

Our findings align with the well-known “inverted-U” principle: the brain systems responsible for instrumental control work best at the right chemical levels, while too little or too much tips this balance towards our automatic tendencies.