Differences in the Brain
A lot of neuroscience research on ADHD has shown that people with ADHD have differences in the prefrontal cortex
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The prefrontal cortex (shown in red in the right picture)
regulates attention and behavior through connections
with sensory and motor areas of the brain -
Imaging studies have shown that people with ADHD
have differences in how brain cells connect and
communicate with each other -
Imaging studies also have shown that the prefrontal
cortex is less activated in people with ADHD compared
to neurotypical/allistic people (ref 1)
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The prefrontal cortex needs a certain amount of two neurotransmitters (chemicals) for work at optimal levels: norepinephrine and dopamine
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Genetic studies have consistently shown differences in the genes of people with ADHD that impacts these two chemicals
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Medications for ADHD increase these chemicals in the brain and allow the prefrontal cortex to work as it should
​The most common type of medications for ADHD are stimulants
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When people think of stimulants, they may think of illegal drugs, such as cocaine, which have a stimulating (activating) effect on behaviour
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Medications for ADHD are stimulants, but the stimulating effect is on the chemicals in the brain
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That is, they stimulate the release of dopamine in the brain so that the prefrontal cortex can work as it should (ref 2)
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1 link to reference
2 link to reference