(Discover) – According to the CDC, around one in ten (11.4 percent) children have been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), millions of whom take prescription medication, like Ritalin and Adderall, to manage symptoms such as inattentiveness and impulsivity.

It is thought that these stimulants target attention networks, but new research suggests that may not actually be the case. According to researchers writing in Cell, medications instead target the brain’s reward and wakefulness centers, relieving symptoms of ADHD by upping arousal levels, increasing motivation, and, in some cases, mimicking the power of a good night’s sleep. (Read More)