Effects of methylphenidate on avoidance learning in the aged rat

Twenty Sprague Dawley rats, aged 22 to 26 months were given subcutaneous injections of 4.5 mg/kg methylphenidate or distilled water. Twelve minutes after the single injection was given, rats began 90 trials of avoidance conditioning. Drug animals made significantly more correct responses than did the control animals. tresults indicate that use of methylphenidate in aged rats improved avoidance learning.