<p>A study <strong><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15229048" rel="nofollow">Evidence that methylphenidate enhances the saliency of a mathematical task by increasing dopamine in the human brain</a></strong> suggests that using of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methylphenidate" rel="nofollow">Methylphenidate</a> that is prescribed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) increases the performance in mathematical tasks in healthy subjects. Methylphenidate primarily acts as a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norepinephrine-dopamine_reuptake_inhibitor" rel="nofollow">dopamine-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor</a>.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Methylphenidate, when coupled with the mathematical task,
  significantly increased extracellular dopamine, but this did not occur
  when coupled with the neutral task. The mathematical task did not
  increase dopamine when coupled with placebo. Subjective reports about
  interest and motivation in the mathematical task were greater with
  methylphenidate than with placebo and were associated with dopamine
  increases.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-31T21:55:19.157Z
Interesting. Is this exclusive to methylphenidate? Or does it apply to other DRIs, such as lisdexamfetamine?
Sydney Maples
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-31T13:21:21.130Z
2015-07-31T13:21:21.130Z
CuriousSuperhero
<p>I am curious to know if there is any existing literature that suggests that an increase in dopamine lends itself to an increased interest in solving problems of a mathematical nature.</p>

<dopamine>
What is the relationship between dopamine and mathematical ability (if any)?
Sydney Maples
# What is the relationship between dopamine and mathematical ability (if any)?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-07-31)

I am curious to know if there is any existing literature that suggests that an increase in dopamine lends itself to an increased interest in solving problems of a mathematical nature.

**Tags:** dopamine


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-07-31. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

A study **[Evidence that methylphenidate enhances the saliency of a mathematical task by increasing dopamine in the human brain](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15229048)** suggests that using of [Methylphenidate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methylphenidate) that is prescribed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) increases the performance in mathematical tasks in healthy subjects. Methylphenidate primarily acts as a [dopamine-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norepinephrine-dopamine_reuptake_inhibitor).

> Methylphenidate, when coupled with the mathematical task,
> significantly increased extracellular dopamine, but this did not occur
> when coupled with the neutral task. The mathematical task did not
> increase dopamine when coupled with placebo. Subjective reports about
> interest and motivation in the mathematical task were greater with
> methylphenidate than with placebo and were associated with dopamine
> increases.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Interesting. Is this exclusive to methylphenidate? Or does it apply to other DRIs, such as lisdexamfetamine?  

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