Epigram
21.01.2013
Science & Tech
Editor: Mary Melville
Deputy Editor: Erik Müürsepp
scienceandtech@epigram.org.uk deputyscienceandtech@epigram.org.uk
Worth risking ritalin for instant brains? Jenny Henshaw looks at how more students are turning to drugs to help with studying when their own focus is not enough. neurotransmitter affected by Ritalin is dopamine, which at increased levels in nerve synapses leads to increased firing of CNS neurones, hence the enhanced brain activity explained above. As with all drugs, Ritalin has its side effects. These include
“10% of UK students have admitted to taking cognitive performanceenhancing drugs” increased blood pressure and heart rate, loss of appetite, sleeping trouble, headaches, stomach aches and mood swings. Whilst these side effects disappear once you stop taking Ritalin, they are considered to be detrimental enough to your health for Ritalin to remain illegal. However, some people argue that if Ritalin is safe to give to children who suffer from ADHD, then healthy adults should not be prevented from using it – they can judge for themselves whether the benefits they get from taking it outweigh the possible side
effects. Statistics show that 10% of UK students have admitted to taking cognitive performanceenhancing drugs, which makes for a somewhat unfair advantage over students who don’t take them. It is comparable to athletes using steroids to enhance their physical performance, of which Lance Armstrong is a prime example. Across sport, performance-enhancing drugs are deemed to create an unfair playing field, and this approach should continue into academia. Is it really plausible though for random drugs testing to take place in every university? Or is it enough for students who do not take performanceenhancing drugs to know that they did their work without drugs, and not care what others do? Maybe we should take the approach that performanceenhancing drugs represent an unmissable opportunity for the human race to excel beyond its current cognitive ability. Students have been taking Ritalin use to a new level though; ADHD sufferers only have to go to their GP to ask for a prescription for Ritalin. At maximum, they pay £7.65 for their prescription, which they
Katie Dalton
Among others, Ritalin - also known as methylphenidate is a commonly used cognitive enhancer, probably due to how easy it is to get hold of. Ritalin is best known for its use in treating people who suffer from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), to whom it is prescribed after examination by a GP. Not on prescription, Ritalin is a Class B drug, which means it comes with a hefty five-year prison sentence just for possession and a 14-year sentence for dealing. When used for ADHD treatment, Ritalin is a very effective method of boosting concentration and focus. It acts by increasing brain activity in the pre-frontal cortex and parts of the parietal cortex, and it is these parts of the brain where ADHD sufferers’ brains appear to have a deficit in activity when compared to those of nonADHD sufferers. Stimulation of these brain regions causes enhanced mental focus in both ADHD sufferers and non-ADHD sufferers. The pharmacology of Ritalin, put very simply, is to prolong neurotransmitter presence in the central nervous system (CNS) by blocking the re-uptake of neurotransmitter into nerve terminals. The main
can make back and more by selling the drug for a hiked up price – appealing to students who have no money. However, for the students who purchase these drugs, they are a very costly - and illegal - way of
getting through their degree. However tempting it may be to use drugs such as Ritalin to improve concentration and focus, there are easier, cheaper and legal ways of making sure you complete your work on
time. The best advice we are all given numerous times throughout our education – don’t leave everything to the last minute.
If cancer is involved, who can you trust? Anastasia Skamarauskas Science Reporter Cancer is a scare word in today’s culture, with good reason. In the UK in 2010, around 157,000 people died of cancer according to Cancer
Research UK. This means that when we are told GM maize has been linked to cancer we take it very seriously. However, it has recently emerged that groups opposed to GM maize had actually led the study that found the link between GM maize and cancer. Not only that, but it was criticised by
the scientific community for being allowed to be published. Recently a list was compiled of Daily Mail articles about things that can cause cancer. It was around 130 articles long and included bacon, metal and the contraceptive pill. Take the contraceptive pill: it does increase the risk
“Many of the articles across the media about cancer are based on one study ”
Daniel Agostini
of breast and cervical cancer, but reduces risk of ovarian, womb and bowel cancer. The list included things known to cause cancer like asbestos and radioactivity, but being a man and being a woman were both included. While gender may increase susceptibility to some cancers, it isn’t the cause and is obviously unavoidable and not a choice. Harvard Medical School did a study looking at media articles that suggest links between a familiar ingredient and cancer. They found little or no statistical evidence in most of the studies. Many of the articles across the media about cancer are based on one study and are speculation. Since a link between mobiles and cancer was suggested, many large scale studies have been done showing no conclusive link, and
yet articles suggesting links are still being published. There are things we can do to reduce a very real risk of cancer, being a healthy non-smoker for example. But our fear of cancer cannot be abused by the media, telling us that drinking wine will give us cancer, but next week will reduce the risk instead. Cancer Research UK published a large conclusive study of the biggest causes of cancer in the UK. They included tobacco, alcohol consumption, sunlight, sunbeds and radiation. These
are things known to increase your chances of developing cancer. For now, at least, you are safe to use your mobile and butter your toast.
Bristol Research in the news Researchers from Bristol University’s computer science department found that women spend more time looking at women than men. Eye movements were monitored during two films, and it was discovered that women spent 61% of the time looking at female actors compared to men’s 53%. Women were also more likely to ‘roam over
the whole figure’ than men. Felix Mercer Moss, a PhD student who led the project, said ‘The study represents the most compelling evidence yet that, despite occupying the same world, the viewpoints of men and women can, at times, be very different.’ This research has recieved attention across many of the major national newspapers.