In this Takeda Joining the Dots 2025 keynote, Professor David Nutt delivers a masterclass in the neuroscience and pharmacology of stimulant medications used to treat ADHD in adults.

Drawing on decades of research and clinical insight, Prof. Nutt takes viewers from the chemical foundations of amfetamines through to their distinct mechanisms of action compared with methylphenidates, unpacking why drugs that are often grouped together can behave very differently in the brain. 

Using clear visuals and evidence from human imaging studies, he explores how dopamine and noradrenaline systems shape attention, focus, and behavioural control, and how stimulant treatments modify these pathways, particularly within the prefrontal cortex. 

Professor Nutt also demystifies core principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, helping viewers understand how timing, exposure, and half‑life influence therapeutic effect, bridging basic neuroscience with clinical relevance.