ADHD Meds Boost Alertness, Not Just Focus, Study Finds

A new study reveals ADHD stimulant medications primarily enhance alertness and motivation, rather than directly sharpening focus. Published in *Cell*, the research suggests these drugs act on reward and wakefulness brain regions, also mimicking the effects of good sleep.

• New study challenges previous understanding of ADHD stimulant mechanisms.
• Medications found to boost the brain's alertness and motivation systems.
• Direct improvement of focus is not the primary mode of action, researchers suggest.
• Drugs also produce brain activity patterns similar to effects of good sleep.
• Research from Washington University School of Medicine was published in *Cell*.
• Findings are based on fMRI scans of nearly 5,800 children and a follow-up with adults.

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