Single-dose stimulant medication causes apparent increases in gray matter volume and cortical thickness in adults with ADHD within 1-2 hours.
In 78 participants (42 healthy controls, 36 adults with ADHD), acute ingestion of a single dose of stimulant medication led to apparent increases in gray matter volume in multiple brain regions and widespread right-lateralized increases in cortical thickness, which were observed in ADHD patients but not healthy controls. The study is the first to show such apparent structural brain changes within 1-2 hours after stimulant ingestion in adults with ADHD.
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Single-dose stimulant medication causes apparent increases in gray matter volume and cortical thickness in adults with ADHD within 1-2 hours. The current body of evidence comprises 1 study. EvidenceHub rates the overall confidence at 32/100 (low).
The Claim
Single-dose stimulant medication causes apparent increases in gray matter volume and cortical thickness in adults with ADHD within 1-2 hours.
This conclusion is most relevant to: 78 participants: 42 healthy controls and 36 age- and gender-matched adults with ADHD.
What the Research Shows
The conclusion draws on 1 linked study. Highlights from the cited literature:
- ▸Acute Effects of Stimulant Medication on Gray Matter and White Matter Indices in Healthy Controls and Adults With ADHD. (Brain and behavior, 2026) —
How It Works
The proposed biological pathway:
- ▸Stimulant medication is ingested
- ▸Within 1-2 hours, apparent increases in gray matter volume and cortical thickness are observed via VBM and SBM
- ▸Fractional anisotropy increases in white matter tracts
- ▸Result: Apparent structural brain changes occur acutely, but cause is unknown
Who Might Benefit
Evidence fit by population:
- ▸78 participants: 42 healthy controls and 36 age- and gender-matched adults with ADHD
Recommended Dose
N/A
Limitations & Caveats
Important context when interpreting this evidence:
- ▸The cause of the apparent structural changes is unknown
- ▸No significant correlation was found between structural changes and physiological covariates (heart rate, blood pressure)
- ▸The study does not clarify whether these changes are real structural alterations or artifacts of physiological effects
Frequently Asked Questions
What brain regions showed increased gray matter volume after stimulant medication?▼
Apparent increases in GMV were observed in bilateral operculum, insula, cingulate and paracingulate cortices, fusiform gyrus, superior, middle and inferior temporal gyri, and in right putamen and caudate nucleus.
Were there differences between ADHD patients and healthy controls in the structural changes?▼
The apparent increases in cortical thickness were seen in ADHD patients but not in healthy controls. However, there were no significant differences in VBM, SBM, or FA between the groups before or after stimulant ingestion.
Did heart rate and blood pressure changes correlate with the brain structural changes?▼
No significant correlation was detected between the structural gray matter and white matter changes and changes in heart rate or blood pressure.
What is the significance of these findings for longitudinal studies?▼
The authors note that these apparent structural changes should be taken into account in longitudinal VBM, SBM, and DTI studies, as acute medication effects could confound results.
References
- 1.Per T, Mussie M. “Acute Effects of Stimulant Medication on Gray Matter and White Matter Indices in Healthy Controls and Adults With ADHD..” Brain and behavior, 2026. PMID: 42464462 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.71606