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Methylphenidate, used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), produces behavioral inhibition, but does this extend beyond socially desirable levels to excessive suppression? In a randomized study of methylphenidate's effect on conformity, 38 healthy women (mean age, 23) received either a 20-mg methylphenidate dose or placebo and then completed several computerized tasks in a double-blind fashion.
First, participants rated the trustworthiness of 153 rapidly shown faces of women. After each rating, participants were informed how others had rated that face; an a priori algorithm created a range of supposed “conflict scores” between the group norms and each participant's ratings. Participants then completed a continuous perform…