Health & Wellness
ADHD Science Quiz
Dopamine, executive function, and 1 in 10 kids — how well do you know ADHD science?
Dopamine, executive function, and 1 in 10 kids — how well do you know ADHD science?
ADHD is 70-80% heritable, making it one of the most genetically influenced psychiatric conditions. This 50-question quiz covers the neuroscience, history, diagnosis, and treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder — from George Still's 1902 lectures to the latest research on cortical maturation, executive function models, and why stimulant medications paradoxically calm hyperactive brains.
ADHD is primarily a neurodevelopmental condition with strong genetic roots (70-80% heritable). Key genes like DRD4 and DAT1 affect dopamine signaling. Brain imaging shows differences in the prefrontal cortex and basal ganglia, and a 2007 NIMH study found cortical maturation is delayed by 2-3 years in children with ADHD.
Stimulants like methylphenidate (Ritalin) and amphetamines (Adderall) increase dopamine and norepinephrine levels in the prefrontal cortex. This boosts the brain's ability to regulate attention, impulse control, and executive function — areas that are underactive in ADHD. About 70-80% of people with ADHD respond well to stimulant medication.
Girls with ADHD more commonly present with the inattentive type rather than hyperactive-impulsive, meaning they may daydream rather than act out. Since disruptive behavior more readily triggers referrals, girls' symptoms are often overlooked or attributed to anxiety, leading to later diagnosis and years of struggling without support.