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Over the past 15 years there has been growing awareness that many college students without an ADHD diagnosis use ADHD drugs. On some campuses, rates of self-reported non-medical use have exceeded 30% of students. [Read more…] about Do ADHD drugs really help college students without ADHD?
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ADHD drugs do not improve cognition in healthy college students (ScienceDaily):
“Contrary to popular belief across college campuses, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications may fail to improve cognition in healthy students and actually can impair functioning, according to a study by researchers at the University of Rhode Island and Brown University. [Read more…] about Think twice before taking Aderall for cognitive enhancement: It may actually impair working memory and other cognitive abilities
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Despite Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and television, (or perhaps precisely because of all of them) traditional reading is still an important skill. Whether it is magazines, professional manuals or fascinating books, people still need to read, now and in years ahead. And much of it is nonfiction material, where it’s important to really understand and then remember what you are reading.
An unfortunate reason why many people don’t read much these days is that they don’t read well. Reading, for them, is slow, hard work and they don’t remember as much as they should. They often have to read something several times before they understand and remember what they read.
Why? You would think that everyone learns how to read well at school. Schools do try, but I work with middle-school teachers and they tell me that many students are 2–3 years behind grade level in reading proficiency. Some of the blame can be placed on fads for teaching reading, such as phonics and “whole language,” which sometimes are promoted in shallow ways that don’t respect the need for both approaches. And much of the blame can be laid at the feet of parents who set poor examples and, of course, on the youngsters who are too distracted by social media and television to learn how to read well.
Now the good news. For anyone who missed out on good reading skills, it is not too late to improve now. I summarize below what I think it takes to read with good speed and comprehension. [Read more…] about Eight Tips To Understand and Remember What You Read — Especially As You Read Nonfiction
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Try adding 3 and 8 in your head.
That was easy. Now, trying adding 33 and 88. That was probably more difficult. Finally, try adding 333 and 888.
Time for SharpBrains’ October e‑newsletter, this time discussing a range of research findings and technologies revolutionizing brain and mental health.
News about the 2017 SharpBrains Virtual Summit (December 5–7th):
And finally, a couple of fun brain teasers to start the week of the right foot:
Have a great month of November!
The SharpBrains Team
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Many parents have observed that their child with ADHD stays attentive and engaged during ‘high interest’ activities, e.g., while playing video games, but has considerable problems staying focused on less inherently engaging tasks, e.g., doing schoolwork. This discrepancy in attention during preferred and non-preferred activities has led some to [Read more…] about Study suggests the real deficit underlying Attention Deficit Disorders is not Attention, but Working Memory
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This training exercise boosts brain power, Johns Hopkins researchers say (Johns Hopkins release)
“One of the two brain-training methods most scientists use in research is significantly better in improving memory and attention, Johns Hopkins University researchers found. It also results in more significant changes in brain activity. [Read more…] about Johns Hopkins study shows how brain training, if correctly targeted, can enhance cognitive and brain performance
