Summary
*DISCLAIMER: All experiments were done in a virtual human population called "The Islands," created specifically for simulating data collection from virtual humans in an ethical manner. The synthetic learning environment overcomes practical and ethical issues with applied human research, and is used for teaching students at many different levels.
This study aims to examine the effects of dextroamphetamine, the most prevalent ingredient in the infamous “Adderall” drug, on people’s mental ability in solving difficult problems. Many people have been known to abuse the drug in order to gain a higher sense of focus and enhance their abilities to think critically in high pressure situations. In order to determine if this is an effective way to boost mental capacity, our study took a sample size of 93 people on the virtual Island and split them into three groups based on low, average, and high IQ scores. Using a repeated measures design, we were able to collect our data by recording each subject’s baseline score on a difficult mental arithmetic exam and then giving each subject doses of 10 mg, 20 mg, and 30 mg. We then had them retake the exam after each dosage increase, giving the subjects one full day to recover after each exam. Our results showed that there is a statistically significant relationship between the dosage of dextroamphetamine and scores on the exam administered by our team. There was no significance in the interaction of IQ level and dosage amount, demonstrating that it cannot be concluded that the effects of the amount of the drug differ for individuals of different IQ levels.
This study aims to examine the effects of dextroamphetamine, the most prevalent ingredient in the infamous “Adderall” drug, on people’s mental ability in solving difficult problems. Many people have been known to abuse the drug in order to gain a higher sense of focus and enhance their abilities to think critically in high pressure situations. In order to determine if this is an effective way to boost mental capacity, our study took a sample size of 93 people on the virtual Island and split them into three groups based on low, average, and high IQ scores. Using a repeated measures design, we were able to collect our data by recording each subject’s baseline score on a difficult mental arithmetic exam and then giving each subject doses of 10 mg, 20 mg, and 30 mg. We then had them retake the exam after each dosage increase, giving the subjects one full day to recover after each exam. Our results showed that there is a statistically significant relationship between the dosage of dextroamphetamine and scores on the exam administered by our team. There was no significance in the interaction of IQ level and dosage amount, demonstrating that it cannot be concluded that the effects of the amount of the drug differ for individuals of different IQ levels.
