Evolution Of Hyperactivity, Impulsivity, And Cognitive Diversity

Main Category: ADHD
Article Date: 03 Dec 2005 - 4:00 PDT

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The evolutionary status of ADHD is central to assessments of whether modern society created it, and is important in understanding its neurobiology and treatment.

ADHD's association with a positively selected gene raises the possibility that ADHD itself is selected for. But previous suggestions of evolutionary benefits of ADHD have either been factually incorrect, or have not explained why, if it is useful, it remains confined to a minority.

We present simulations showing that unpredictability, a key feature of ADHD, impairs individuals, but optimises foraging by the group. This is because risks are borne mainly by the individual, but the entire group benefits from behavioural and genetic experimentation.

This 'group exploration' view accounts for the prevalence, sex & age distribution, severity distribution, and heterogeneity of ADHD.

by Dr JOH Williams and Prof E Taylor

Tim Watson
tim.watson@royalsoc.ac.uk
Royal Society
http://www.royalsoc.ac.uk

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