Differential Impact of Serotonin Signaling Methylphenidate on Young versus Adult: Insights from Behavioral and Dorsal Raphe Nucleus Neuronal Recordings from Freely Behaving Rats.

Methylphenidate (MPD) remains a cornerstone pharmacological intervention for managing ADHD, yet its increasing usage among ordinary youth and adults outside clinical contexts necessitates a thorough investigation into its developmental effects. This study seeks to simultaneously investigate the behavioral and neuronal changes within the dorsal raphe (DR) nucleus, a center of serotonergic neurons in the mammalian brain, before and after the administration of varying doses of acute and chronic MPD in freely behaving young and adult rats implanted with DR recording electrodes. Wireless neuronal and behavioral recording systems were used over 10 consecutive experimental days.