Stimulant-related state-dependent learning in hyperactive children.

Hyperactive and nonhyperactive children performed a learning task in two states, while being treated with stimulant medication (methylphenidate) and while taking a placebo, and were tested for retention of each class of learned material in both states. Symmetrical state-dependent learning was demonstrated in the hyperactive group but not in the nonhyperactive group. The state-dependent effect was contingent on the presence of drug-induced facilitation during initial learning. This is apparently the first report on record of state-dependent learning with a drug agent that facilitates rather than impairs performance of human subjects.