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Comment by _98fj | Hacker News Reader

> For example, their review of brain-imaging studies found that when the brain was focused on a task at hand, its prefrontal “executive” network, which governs planning and impulse control, among other functions, constrains other brain activity.

That is the reason why dopamine-raising stimulants actually have a calming function on people with ADHD: they fuel this "suppressing" function of the brain, thus enabling it to calm itself.

My theory about ADHD is that there's a genetic disposition, where people need to move physically in order to have their dopaminergic systems functioning properly. Probably a bad adaption to our rather stationary lifestyle.

On top of that I think that if children are frequently interrupted and confronted with bad emotions they don't learn to focus.

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Keep in mind that ADHD has two subtypes: Hyperactive and Inattentive. Where Hyperactive individuals express themselves physically, Inattentive individuals get lost in their thoughts.

I feel it's important to note that there's also combined type, which combines elements from both hyperactive and inattentive types.

Absolutely, I find that I'm naturally on the inattentive side but hyperactive symptoms present when I'm forcing myself to pay attention to something (like a lecture) and not let my mind wander.

Just a quick question (in relation to my comment to your other comment): In these lectures that you find hard to concentrate on: Could you say that you feel disgust/repulsion? There doesn't need to be a rational reason, disgust is completely trained and can be felt for anything from the look of the windows to the hairstyle of the lecturer to the actual topic.

If so, then your inattentiveness could be your mind trying to escape that feeling.

That's the worst part, I don't even know have a guess as to why my brain wanders off. It's just gone and I suddenly realize I haven't been paying attention for 10 minutes. I don't think disgust/escapism can explain it, because it can be an extremely fascinating lecture. But my mind will grab on to a topic and continue on "cruise control" internally before realizing the road has a curve in it. If I had to pick something, it would be related to hyperfocus that just gets triggered off of a random thought.

Not meaning to get too personal here, so feel free to ignore this, but it still could be that you're zoning out to avoid some negative emotions.

Could it be that you're dreading something that is "implied" by the lecture in a way? Maybe the practise that you feel obliged to do? Maybe the impact the lecture could have on your work or schedule? Maybe just the end of the lecture and back to whatever comes after?

I think it's possible the hyperactive types try to get rid of their inner tension and negative jumpy emotions by moving.

And, I realise I'm leaning myself out of the window here, I think the inattentive type doesn't have the "dopaminergic focus problems" that strong. He zones out because he is repulsed by given tasks for different reasons. That's the insula and emotions of disgust at play there.

Yeah no. There are four types of ADHD. Level 4 are struggling, with raging impulsivity and energy, violent, expressive - often in prison. Type is what was known as ADD in the past.

Source? I'm only familiar with the DSM subtypes (Inattentive, Hyperactive, Combined)

That was supposed to say type 1. Typed on my cellphone. The combined is the third yes, and the fourth is an aggressive-rage-like version. You know the type, instead of becoming rugby pros, they end up in violent crime.

Let me get back to you on a source, ICD10 somewhere.

Yes, in fact there are six or seven different executive functions impacted by ADHD, attention and hyperactivity are just two of them.

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