Methylphenidate and sustained attention in rats: a systematic review

Abstract Rationale. Methylphenidate (MPH) is widely used to study attentional processes in animal models, particularly in rats, due to the controlled experimental conditions and the ability to assess its neurobiological effects. Behavioral tasks analogous to those used in human studies provide valua...

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Autores: Batanero-Geraldo, Adela, Montiel Herrera, Fátima, López García, Juan Carlos, Vargas Romero, Juan Pedro
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2026
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Sevilla (US)
Repositorio:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
OAI Identifier:oai:dnet:idus________::9db8c16e6278ecd0fd56c05650dcbff7
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/11441/185544
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-026-07007-w
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Methylphenidate
Sustained attention
Behavioral tests
Rats
Cognitive processes
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spelling Methylphenidate and sustained attention in rats: a systematic reviewBatanero-Geraldo, AdelaMontiel Herrera, FátimaLópez García, Juan CarlosVargas Romero, Juan PedroMethylphenidateSustained attentionBehavioral testsRatsCognitive processesAbstract Rationale. Methylphenidate (MPH) is widely used to study attentional processes in animal models, particularly in rats, due to the controlled experimental conditions and the ability to assess its neurobiological effects. Behavioral tasks analogous to those used in human studies provide valuable insights into the drug’s impact on attention. While many studies have investigated its acute effects or its long-term influence on neurotoxicity and sensitization, no comprehensive review has synthesized these findings within a unified framework. Objectives. This systematic review aims to analyze the available evidence on the effects of MPH on attention in rats, considering the behavioral tests used and the administered doses. Methods. A systematic literature search identified studies published between 2014 and 2024, selecting 20 relevant articles that assessed attention and related processes through various behavioral paradigms. This review was pre-registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024563124). Results. The findings reveal that low doses of MPH enhance attentional performance and working memory, whereas high doses impair attention and increase locomotor activity. Additional factors, such as stress, age at administration, and route of administration, significantly influence the drug’s effects. In particular, Wistar and Wistar-Kyoto rat strains appear to be the most susceptible to its influence. Conclusion. These results highlight the complexity of MPH’s impact on attention and related cognitive processes. The variability in outcomes underscores the need for further research to clarify dose–response relationships and the role of individual and environmental factors in shaping the drug’s effects.SpringerPsicología ExperimentalMinisterio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (MICIU). EspañaAgencia Estatal de Investigación. España2026info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionapplication/pdfapplication/pdfhttps://hdl.handle.net/11441/185544https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-026-07007-wreponame:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevillainstname:Universidad de Sevilla (US)InglésPsychopharmacology. PID2019-110739 GB-I00PID2023-149901NB-I00https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00213-026-07007-w#Abs1info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:dnet:idus________::9db8c16e6278ecd0fd56c05650dcbff72026-06-17T12:51:07Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Methylphenidate and sustained attention in rats: a systematic review
title Methylphenidate and sustained attention in rats: a systematic review
spellingShingle Methylphenidate and sustained attention in rats: a systematic review
Batanero-Geraldo, Adela
Methylphenidate
Sustained attention
Behavioral tests
Rats
Cognitive processes
title_short Methylphenidate and sustained attention in rats: a systematic review
title_full Methylphenidate and sustained attention in rats: a systematic review
title_fullStr Methylphenidate and sustained attention in rats: a systematic review
title_full_unstemmed Methylphenidate and sustained attention in rats: a systematic review
title_sort Methylphenidate and sustained attention in rats: a systematic review
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Batanero-Geraldo, Adela
Montiel Herrera, Fátima
López García, Juan Carlos
Vargas Romero, Juan Pedro
author Batanero-Geraldo, Adela
author_facet Batanero-Geraldo, Adela
Montiel Herrera, Fátima
López García, Juan Carlos
Vargas Romero, Juan Pedro
author_role author
author2 Montiel Herrera, Fátima
López García, Juan Carlos
Vargas Romero, Juan Pedro
author2_role author
author
author
dc.contributor.none.fl_str_mv Psicología Experimental
Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (MICIU). España
Agencia Estatal de Investigación. España
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Methylphenidate
Sustained attention
Behavioral tests
Rats
Cognitive processes
topic Methylphenidate
Sustained attention
Behavioral tests
Rats
Cognitive processes
description Abstract Rationale. Methylphenidate (MPH) is widely used to study attentional processes in animal models, particularly in rats, due to the controlled experimental conditions and the ability to assess its neurobiological effects. Behavioral tasks analogous to those used in human studies provide valuable insights into the drug’s impact on attention. While many studies have investigated its acute effects or its long-term influence on neurotoxicity and sensitization, no comprehensive review has synthesized these findings within a unified framework. Objectives. This systematic review aims to analyze the available evidence on the effects of MPH on attention in rats, considering the behavioral tests used and the administered doses. Methods. A systematic literature search identified studies published between 2014 and 2024, selecting 20 relevant articles that assessed attention and related processes through various behavioral paradigms. This review was pre-registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024563124). Results. The findings reveal that low doses of MPH enhance attentional performance and working memory, whereas high doses impair attention and increase locomotor activity. Additional factors, such as stress, age at administration, and route of administration, significantly influence the drug’s effects. In particular, Wistar and Wistar-Kyoto rat strains appear to be the most susceptible to its influence. Conclusion. These results highlight the complexity of MPH’s impact on attention and related cognitive processes. The variability in outcomes underscores the need for further research to clarify dose–response relationships and the role of individual and environmental factors in shaping the drug’s effects.
publishDate 2026
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2026
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv https://hdl.handle.net/11441/185544
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-026-07007-w
url https://hdl.handle.net/11441/185544
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-026-07007-w
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv Psychopharmacology.
PID2019-110739 GB-I00
PID2023-149901NB-I00
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00213-026-07007-w#Abs1
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eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
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application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Springer
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Springer
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
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