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Wed Jan 29 06:36:16 PST 2025

PsyPost – Psychology News Daily Digest (Unofficial)

(https://www.psypost.org/human-evolution-in-the-usa-education-linked-genes-being-selected-against-study-suggests/) Human evolution in the USA: Education-linked genes being selected against, study suggests
Jan 29th 2025, 08:00

Human evolution is far from a relic of the past, as a new study in (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10519-024-10189-8) Behavior Genetics demonstrates. By analyzing data from three generations of Americans, researchers found that natural selection is favoring certain health-related traits while selecting against traits linked to higher educational attainment. These findings offer new insights into how societal and economic factors continue to influence the course of human evolution.
Natural selection is the process by which certain traits become more or less common in a population over generations, based on their impact on an individual’s ability to survive and reproduce. Traits that increase reproductive success—such as those that enhance health, adaptability, or fertility—tend to become more prevalent over time, while traits that reduce reproductive success may diminish.
In humans, natural selection is influenced by a complex interplay of genetic, environmental, and social factors. Unlike in other species, where survival may depend largely on physical characteristics, in humans, cultural, economic, and societal factors significantly shape reproductive patterns and, by extension, genetic evolution.
The new study is grounded in an economic theory of fertility, first proposed by economist Gary Becker, which explains how economic considerations influence reproductive behavior. The theory has two main components.
The first is the “substitution effect,” which posits that individuals face a trade-off between working and raising children. For individuals with higher education or income, their time is more valuable in the labor market, meaning that the opportunity cost of having children is higher. As a result, these individuals are more likely to have fewer children, prioritizing their careers and economic productivity over reproduction.
The second component of the theory explains how this trade-off plays out differently across socioeconomic groups. According to the theory, the substitution effect is more pronounced for people with lower education, lower income, or those who are unmarried. In these groups, marginal utility—the value of each additional dollar of income—is higher, meaning they are more sensitive to the economic trade-offs between work and family. In contrast, higher-income or highly educated individuals may experience a balancing effect known as the “income effect,” where increased wealth makes raising children more affordable, partially offsetting the substitution effect.
To conduct their analysis, the researchers used data from the Health and Retirement Survey, focusing on a sample of 8,827 genotyped white participants born before 1965 for men and before 1970 for women. This ensured that most participants had completed their fertility by the time of the study. The researchers also examined data from 2,319 genotyped Black participants for comparative purposes. Polygenic scores—genetic predictors for traits like educational attainment, self-rated health, and age at first birth—were calculated using pre-existing genetic data repositories.
The key variable in the study was “relative lifetime reproductive success,” which was defined as the number of children a person had, divided by the average number of children for people born in the same year. By examining how polygenic scores correlated with reproductive success, the researchers could estimate the direction and magnitude of natural selection on various traits. The study also extended its analysis across three generations, looking at the participants’ siblings and grandchildren to capture how selection effects accumulate over time.
The researchers found that polygenic scores associated with educational attainment tend to correlate negatively with reproductive success, confirming that these scores are being selected against. This means individuals with higher genetic predispositions for educational attainment are, on average, having fewer children. This pattern held consistently across the three generations studied, suggesting that the effects of selection on educational traits have persisted over time. The researchers noted that this aligns with the first prediction of the economic theory of fertility, which posits that individuals with higher human capital face a trade-off between investing time in work and raising children.
However, the results for the second prediction of the theory were less consistent. This prediction states that selection pressures should be stronger among socioeconomically disadvantaged groups, such as those with lower income, less education, or unmarried parents. While the researchers found stronger selection coefficients for low-income and unmarried parents, they did not observe significant differences based on education level or age at first birth. These mixed results suggest that while economic factors may explain some aspects of natural selection, they do not fully account for the observed patterns.
In addition to educational traits, the study also examined selection on health-related traits. Interestingly, some health traits, such as self-rated health and age at first birth, showed selection pressures comparable to those for educational attainment. This indicates that natural selection is not solely acting on traits related to socioeconomic outcomes but also on traits that influence overall health and reproductive timing.
For example, the polygenic score for self-rated health was positively associated with reproductive success, suggesting that individuals with better genetic predispositions for health are having more children. Conversely, polygenic scores for traits like smoking behavior were being selected against.
The researchers also estimated the magnitude of genetic change across generations, finding that natural selection is causing measurable, though modest, shifts in polygenic scores. For instance, the genetic predisposition for cognitive performance is estimated to decrease by approximately 0.055 standard deviations per generation. While this translates to a small decline in average IQ, the researchers caution that these estimates are influenced by various factors, including environmental changes and genetic measurement errors.
The study’s limitations are important to consider. One major limitation is the focus on white participants, which means the findings may not generalize to other racial or ethnic groups. Although the researchers included Black participants in some analyses, the smaller sample size for this group limited the precision of the results. Additionally, the study relies on polygenic scores, which are imperfect predictors of complex traits. These scores capture only a portion of the genetic variance associated with traits, and their predictive power may vary across populations.
The study, “(https://doi.org/10.1007/s10519-024-10189-8) Natural Selection Across Three Generations of Americans,” was authored by David Hugh‑Jones and Tobias Edwards.

(https://www.psypost.org/identity-fusion-with-trump-reinforced-his-election-fraud-claims-and-narratives-of-victimhood/) Identity fusion with Trump reinforced his election fraud claims and narratives of victimhood
Jan 29th 2025, 06:00

Why did so many Trump supporters continue to back him after his claims of election fraud in 2020 were disproven? A study published in (https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/ps-political-science-and-politics/article/power-of-trumps-big-lie-identity-fusion-internalizing-misinformation-and-support-for-trump/AF2A0DBE08319E0E3944825E187EDBCC) PS: Political Science & Politics suggests that a deep psychological bond with the former president—referred to as “identity fusion”—played a key role in shaping their beliefs and bolstering their loyalty, even as new controversies and criminal charges emerged.
The researchers, (https://www.philipmoniz.org/) Philip Moniz of Northeastern University and William B. Swann of the University of Texas at Austin, aimed to understand why many Trump supporters remained loyal despite his repeated promotion of falsehoods about the election and subsequent criminal charges. Trump’s allegations of voter fraud, which were widely debunked, had far-reaching consequences, including the January 6 Capitol riot and ongoing polarization within the United States. The study sought to investigate how identity fusion could sustain belief in misinformation and shape political attitudes.
“As Trump’s legal cases began to pile up in the run-up to the Republican presidential primary in 2024, we, like many others, were interested in what effect, if any, his legal trouble would have on his voters’ support,” Moniz explained. “We wondered if a conviction in particular, which would make him the first-ever convicted felon to run on a major-party ticket, would sour voters on him. We suspected that steadfast commitment to Trump between 2020 and 2024 might be driven by the fusion of voters’ identities with Trump.”
To explore these dynamics, the researchers conducted a three-wave panel survey over three years, from November 2020 to March 2024. The study included 130 self-identified Trump voters recruited through Amazon’s Mechanical Turk platform. Participants completed surveys at three key points: shortly after the 2020 election, in early 2021 following the Capitol riot, and three years later during the 2024 presidential primary season.
The surveys measured identity fusion with Trump using statements such as “I have a deep emotional bond with Donald Trump” and “I make Donald Trump strong.” Belief in election fraud claims was assessed through agreement with statements like “Donald Trump actually won the 2020 presidential election.” Participants also shared their views on Trump’s criminal indictments and their support for his policy proposals, including controversial measures such as mass deportations and eliminating civil service protections for federal employees.
The researchers found a strong, reciprocal relationship between identity fusion and belief in election fraud claims. Participants who were more fused with Trump before the 2020 election were significantly more likely to adopt his narrative of voter fraud in the years that followed. Believing these claims, in turn, deepened their emotional bond with Trump, creating a feedback loop that reinforced loyalty and acceptance of his rhetoric.
This dynamic had broader consequences for participants’ attitudes. Those who believed the election fraud claims were more likely to downplay Trump’s criminal charges, viewing them as politically motivated rather than legitimate. They were also more supportive of Trump’s policy agenda, including proposals widely criticized as undemocratic. The findings suggest that belief in misinformation about the election served as a foundation for embracing other pro-Trump narratives, further insulating his supporters from challenges to his credibility.
“Our study showed that those who stuck with Trump through thick and thin—his loss in 2020 and subsequent criminal indictments—were those whose sense of self was more strongly fused to Trump early on, before the Capitol insurrection of January 6, 2021,” Moniz told PsyPost. “It’s partly an identity-driven process. It’s not only about their dislike of Democrats or beliefs about the value of democracy.”
“We also found that Trump’s ‘big lie’ that the 2020 election was rigged played a highly influential role. The more his supporters believed them in 2021, the more they rallied around Trump in the three years that followed. Their identities became more fused with Trump, and their support for his agenda grew, including policies like deporting all undocumented immigrants.”
Interestingly, the researchers found that belief in election fraud claims was a stronger predictor of political attitudes than other factors, such as hostility toward Democrats or support for the January 6 insurrection.
“We were surprised just how strong a role belief in these claims played in the minds of our sample’s Trump supporters,” Moniz said. “It was by far the most powerful predictor, among the variables we measured, of support for Trump’s policy agenda and his narrative of victimhood. That sense of victimhood at the hands of the political system seems to have done a lot to pave the way for believing Trump’s narrative and rhetoric on other things.”
The findings highlight the powerful role of identity fusion in shaping political beliefs and behaviors. But as with all research, there are limitations.
The sample size was relatively small, and the participants were not representative of all Trump supporters or the broader electorate. The sample was predominantly white, with a slightly higher level of education than the general Republican voter base. “We cannot say the processes we document are definitively representative of the population, but they are characteristic of what’s going on in a more educated, more politically interested subset of voters,” Moniz noted. Future research could address these limitations by using larger, more representative samples and examining how identity fusion interacts with misinformation in other political contexts.
The study also raises questions about the broader psychological processes at play. For example, how does belief in one false claim make individuals more likely to accept additional misinformation? Understanding this “snowball effect” could help researchers develop strategies to counteract the spread of falsehoods and promote critical thinking among voters.
“This project really emphasized to me the power of belief in certain misinformation, in this case the ‘big lie,’ to make it easier to make other rhetoric more believable,” Moniz said. “It’s like, once you get someone to believe one big thing, it may become easier to make them believe other, maybe even bigger things. I’d like to look into that process further—how it works, and why.”
The study, “(https://doi.org/10.1017/S1049096524001203) The Power of Trump’s Big Lie: Identity Fusion, Internalizing Misinformation, and Support for Trump,” was published January 13, 2025.

(https://www.psypost.org/why-being-vegetarian-might-hurt-your-chances-on-dating-apps/) Why being vegetarian might hurt your chances on dating apps
Jan 28th 2025, 16:00

A study published in the (https://spb.psychopen.eu/index.php/spb/article/view/14457) Social Psychological Bulletin reveals that individuals following a vegetarian diet may be viewed as less attractive dating partners by meat-eaters, particularly in Poland, a country with a strong meat-eating tradition. Participants in the study, who were all heterosexual meat-eaters, rated dating profiles of vegetarians less favorably than profiles with no mention of dietary habits.
The researchers, led by Dominika Adamczyk of the University of Warsaw, sought to investigate how dietary habits, particularly vegetarianism, influence perceptions of attractiveness and suitability as romantic partners. The study was motivated by the cultural significance of food in romantic relationships and the broader influence of gender roles and traditional values in Polish society. Vegetarianism, often seen as a social identity rather than merely a dietary preference, was hypothesized to challenge traditional norms and provoke biases among omnivores.
To explore these dynamics, the researchers conducted an online experiment with 404 heterosexual meat-eaters (204 women and 200 men) aged 18 to 82. Participants were presented with a simulated dating profile of a potential partner whose dietary habits were manipulated across four conditions: vegetarian for ethical reasons, vegetarian for environmental reasons, vegetarian for health reasons, or no mention of dietary habits (control condition).
Participants evaluated the profiles based on a “feeling thermometer” (a measure of general attitudes), willingness to date the individual, gender congruence, and the presence of masculine or feminine traits. Participants’ level of identification as a meat-eater was also measured to determine its influence on their perceptions.
The study found that profiles with no dietary information were consistently rated more positively than profiles of vegetarians. Among vegetarian profiles, those motivated by health reasons were rated least favorably across several measures, including willingness to date, masculinity, femininity, and gender congruence. Ethically motivated vegetarians, particularly men, were perceived less positively by women compared to their male counterparts evaluating ethically motivated female vegetarians.
Interestingly, the researchers observed that vegetarianism influenced perceptions of masculinity and femininity, with male vegetarians often being viewed as less masculine and women vegetarians as less feminine compared to their meat-eating counterparts.
The researchers interpreted these findings through the lens of cultural and psychological theories. One explanation is the “similarity effect,” which suggests that individuals are more attracted to those who share similar values and lifestyles. Since dietary habits often reflect deeper values, meat-eaters may perceive vegetarians as fundamentally different, making them less desirable as romantic partners.
Furthermore, in a traditional and patriarchal society like Poland, vegetarianism might be seen as a deviation from conventional norms, especially for men. Meat consumption is culturally associated with strength and masculinity, so rejecting meat could challenge societal expectations of male behavior.
Another notable finding was the role of the motivation behind vegetarianism. Health-motivated vegetarians were perceived least favorably, possibly because their dietary choice was seen as self-centered rather than altruistic. This contrasts with ethically and environmentally motivated vegetarians, whose choices might align more with broader societal values, such as compassion and sustainability.
However, the negative perception of health-motivated vegetarians in a dating context may stem from stereotypes of such individuals as overly rigid or demanding in their lifestyle choices, which could signal potential challenges in a romantic relationship.
Despite these significant findings, the study had some limitations. For example, the researchers only included heterosexual participants and evaluated opposite-sex profiles, leaving questions about how these dynamics might play out in same-sex relationships or among non-heterosexual individuals. Additionally, the study’s context in Poland, with its strong meat-eating tradition and traditional gender roles, may limit the generalizability of the findings to other cultures. Future research could explore how these perceptions vary across different cultural settings, as well as examine how short-term versus long-term relationship contexts influence the attractiveness of vegetarians.
The study also raises important questions about the intersection of gender norms and dietary choices. For example, the researchers noted that vegetarian men might face unique challenges due to societal associations between masculinity and meat consumption. However, evolving perceptions of masculinity in modern society could reshape how vegetarian men are perceived in the future.
The study, “(https://doi.org/10.32872/spb.14457) Dating a Vegetarian? Perception of Masculinity, Attractiveness, and the Willingness to Date Vegetarians,” was authored by Dominika Adamczyk, John B. Nezlek, and Dominika Maison.

(https://www.psypost.org/tiktok-tics-study-sheds-light-on-recovery-trends-and-ongoing-mental-health-challenges/) TikTok tics study sheds light on recovery trends and ongoing mental health challenges
Jan 28th 2025, 14:00

During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare providers observed a sharp increase in adolescents experiencing functional tic-like behaviors—involuntary movements and sounds resembling Tourette Syndrome but arising from distinct causes. A study from Boston Children’s Hospital revealed that nearly 80% of these adolescents showed improvement in their symptoms after pandemic restrictions were lifted, regardless of the treatments they received. However, a subset continued to struggle with broader mental health issues, suggesting deeper psychosocial factors at play.
The research has been published in the journal (https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.3451) Brain and Behavior.
The surge in functional tic-like behaviors was particularly puzzling because it often appeared suddenly in individuals with no prior history of tics. Unlike typical tic disorders, many of these cases were linked to social media use, especially TikTok. Adolescents frequently reported engaging with videos featuring influencers who displayed tic-like behaviors, and some began mimicking these symptoms. Dubbed “TikTok tics,” this phenomenon raised concerns about the role of digital environments in influencing vulnerable youth and spreading functional neurological symptoms.
TikTok tics are thought to be a form of sociogenic illness, a condition where symptoms spread through social or environmental exposure rather than biological causes. Adolescents who spent increased time on TikTok during the pandemic may have been particularly susceptible. Many of these influencers shared their experiences with tics or neurological conditions, creating online communities that provided validation and support. For adolescents isolated by pandemic restrictions, these communities often became lifelines for social connection.
However, the constant exposure to tic-like behaviors through videos may have inadvertently triggered their brains to mimic these actions. Unlike traditional tics, which are often preceded by a sensory urge, TikTok tics typically lack this feature and appear in rapid, repetitive sequences.
The rise of TikTok tics coincided with several other stressors related to the pandemic, including school closures, social isolation, and increased rates of anxiety and depression among adolescents. Researchers began to suspect that the unique combination of psychological vulnerability, pandemic-related stress, and social media exposure created a “perfect storm” for the development of functional tic-like behaviors. This theory aligned with earlier examples of mass psychogenic illness, where functional symptoms spread within tight-knit communities, such as schools or workplaces. In this case, the online environment provided the medium for widespread exposure.
In their new study, researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital aimed to address three key questions: what factors contributed to the onset of functional tic-like behaviors, how these behaviors evolved after pandemic restrictions were lifted, and which treatment approaches were most effective.
To investigate this, the researchers conducted a retrospective study examining the medical records of adolescents who presented with these symptoms. The study focused on 56 patients aged 10 to 18 who developed functional tic-like behaviors between March 2020 and the lifting of pandemic restrictions. Researchers collected data on the patients’ demographic characteristics, comorbid mental health diagnoses, and treatment approaches, using standardized clinical scales to measure symptom improvement and overall functioning.
Two key tools were employed to assess outcomes: the Clinical Global Impression Improvement Scale (CGI-I) and the Clinical Global Impression Severity Scale (CGI-S). The CGI-I evaluated the progression of tic-like behaviors, while the CGI-S provided a broader view of patients’ overall mental health and functional abilities.
Patients with CGI-I scores of 1–2 were considered to have significantly improved, while those with scores of 3 or higher were categorized as not improved. Similarly, CGI-S scores of 1–3 indicated mild or no functional impairments, whereas scores of 4 or higher suggested moderate to severe impairments. Follow-up assessments occurred between August 2022 and January 2023, with an average follow-up duration of 518 days.
The study found that 79% of patients showed improvement in their tic-like behaviors, as measured by the CGI-I. This improvement was consistent regardless of the specific treatments patients received, such as cognitive behavioral intervention for tics (CBIT), general mental health therapy, or medication.
However, the findings indicated that improvement in tic-like behaviors did not always correlate with overall recovery. On the CGI-S scale, 71% of patients were rated as having mild or no functional impairments at follow-up, but the remaining 29% continued to experience moderate to severe difficulties, highlighting ongoing struggles with mental health and psychosocial functioning.
Comorbid mental health conditions were prevalent among the study population, with over 90% of patients diagnosed with anxiety disorders and 71% with depressive disorders. Many patients also reported other functional neurological symptoms, such as psychogenic non-epileptic seizures, dissociative episodes, or functional gait impairments. These findings suggest that functional tic-like behaviors are part of a broader pattern of psychological and neurological vulnerabilities rather than isolated phenomena.
Interestingly, treatment type did not appear to significantly impact the likelihood of improvement. While 86% of patients engaged in some form of psychotherapy, including CBIT, and 91% received medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), neither approach proved more effective than the other.
Patients who received therapy without medication showed similar improvement rates (78%) to those treated with SSRIs (76%). This broad trend of recovery, independent of treatment modality, led researchers to speculate that the resolution of pandemic-related stressors, such as isolation and restricted social interaction, played a significant role in symptom improvement.
However, the study also identified a subset of patients who experienced persistent challenges. Adolescents who identified as gender-diverse were particularly vulnerable, showing similar rates of improvement in tic-like behaviors but significantly lower improvement in overall functioning compared to their cisgender peers. Additionally, some patients whose tic-like behaviors improved went on to develop other functional symptoms, such as eating disorders or self-harm, underscoring the complex and evolving nature of these conditions.
Looking ahead, the study highlights several directions for future research. One pressing area is the development of modified therapeutic approaches that address the unique characteristics of functional tic-like behaviors, such as their rapid onset and sociogenic components. For example, adaptations of CBIT that incorporate sensory grounding techniques and emotional acceptance may prove more effective. Another key area is the exploration of social media’s influence on adolescent mental health, particularly in the context of identity formation and validation.
The study, “(https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.3451) Time is ticking for TikTok tics: A retrospective follow-up study in the post-COVID-19 isolation era,” was authored by Kinga K. Tomczak, Jennifer Worhach, Michael Rich, Olivia Swearingen Ludolph, Susan Eppling, Georgios Sideridis, and Tamar C. Katz.

(https://www.psypost.org/young-womens-mixed-feelings-about-sex-stem-from-conflicting-social-norms/) Young women’s mixed feelings about sex stem from conflicting social norms
Jan 28th 2025, 12:00

A set of interviews with young women in the United States revealed that their mixed feelings toward sex stem from conflicting social norms. Participating women expressed a desire to have sex with their partners, guided by social norms that valorized such encounters, but they were also influenced by coexisting norms that stigmatized sexual activity. The paper was published in (https://doi.org/10.1177/13634607241298538) Sexualities.
Gender norms are socially constructed beliefs that dictate how individuals should behave based on their gender. These norms typically reinforce traditional expectations, such as the idea that men should be sexually assertive while women should be more reserved. In many cultures, deviating from these expectations can lead to social stigma or judgment, influencing individuals’ choices and behaviors.
These norms also shape perceptions of sexuality. In most cultures, men are encouraged to prioritize pleasure, while women are expected to focus on emotional connection. However, evolving social attitudes and movements are challenging traditional norms, advocating for more inclusive and liberal perspectives on sexuality.
Gender norms tend to be particularly powerful in regulating the sexual behavior of young women. While cultural changes in recent decades have allowed women greater freedom to engage in casual sex, they still face reprisals for sexual behaviors deemed inappropriate. They also worry that others might apply stigmatizing labels to them (e.g., “slut”) based on their sexual activity.
Study authors Krystale E. Littlejohn and Benjamin R. Weiss note that young women can simultaneously want and not want sex with a particular person. They refer to this phenomenon as psycho-social sexual ambivalence and argue that it stems from conflicting gender norms surrounding heterosexual behavior. These researchers conducted a study to explore the issue of sexual ambivalence in more detail.
The study participants were 20 young women between the ages of 20 and 29 from two community colleges and two research universities in the San Francisco Bay area. They were drawn from a larger study that aimed to gather retrospective sexual histories from participants to understand why they did not always use contraception when they did not want to become pregnant.
The study authors conducted in-depth interviews with these women between 2009 and 2011. The interviews lasted between 1 and 3 hours. For this analysis, the researchers selected women who discussed sexual ambivalence in at least one sexual encounter with one of their partners.
The results showed no differences in experiences of ambivalence based on pregnancy history. Of the 20 participants, 12 had never been pregnant, while 8 had experienced pregnancy. Eight women reported ambivalence with more than one partner.
The interviews revealed that young women face conflicting norms about how they should behave while exploring their sexuality. While some norms frame engaging in sexual intercourse as “no big deal,” other norms emphasize the preservation of virginity or abstaining from sex unless it is with a “special” partner.
“Women experiencing sexual ambivalence often do not have access to a normative toolkit that helps them understand the experience of simultaneously wanting and not wanting sex and the complex mix of positive and negative feelings that can accompany encounters that they understand as fully consensual,” the study authors concluded. “Moreover, they may not even recognize that the norms operating in their social contexts might be giving rise to their feelings to begin with. Instead, women in the study experienced confusion and shame or excitement that felt tinged with something less positive. Giving voice to people’s experiences and creating room for the continuum of feelings about sex requires interrogating binary constructions of sexual desire.”
The study contributes to the scientific understanding of the sexual experiences of young women. However, it should be noted that this is a qualitative study involving a small group of young women from the San Francisco Bay area. Results from women in other regions and cultures may differ.
The paper, ““(https://doi.org/10.1177/13634607241298538) It definitely was consensual, but…”: Normative tensions about gendered heterosexuality and young women’s mixed feelings about sex,” was authored by Krystale E. Littlejohn and Benjamin R. Weiss.

(https://www.psypost.org/adhd-and-brainwaves-how-neuroscience-is-changing-the-way-we-diagnose-the-condition/) ADHD and brainwaves: How neuroscience is changing the way we diagnose the condition
Jan 28th 2025, 10:00

Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) do not have a behavioural disorder, nor are they lazy, or lacking in manners and boundaries. Their brains mature in a different way, with different patterns of neurological activity and a number of neurochemical differences. For this reason, (https://www.cdc.gov/adhd/about/index.html) ADHD is considered to be a neurodevelopmental disorder.
These neurological imbalances manifest as attention difficulties, disorganisation, or hyperactivity and impulsivity. While these are most noticeable in childhood, where prevalence is estimated at 5%, ADHD can persist into adulthood, where prevalence is 2.5% of the population. ADHD can therefore have (https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/development-and-psychopathology/article/abs/attentiondeficit-disorder-attentiondeficit-hyperactivity-disorder-without-hyperactivity-a-neurobiologically-and-behaviorally-distinct-disorder-from-attentiondeficithyperactivity-disorder-with-hyperactivity/A514B3DD207C6B037F45197B820CFFA9) social, academic and (https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2007-18100-000) occupational impacts throughout a person’s life.
Although there are risk factors (such as mothers smoking during pregnancy or low birth weight), these have not been shown to directly cause ADHD. Genetic factors play a more significant role, as (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6477889/) 74% of cases are hereditary.
Diagnosing beyond behaviour
Currently, ADHD diagnoses are mostly made through cognitive and behavioural observations. These tests determine whether a child is having difficulties in relation to what is expected for their age.
However, this can be complemented – or perhaps even replaced in the future – by computational neuroscience. Thanks to research in this discipline, (https://bitsphi.com/) tools are emerging that no longer rely on behavioural observation, but instead study patterns of brain activity. By using mathematical algorithms, they provide information on whether an individual’s brain activity is similar to that of other people with ADHD.
Differences in the brain
Our daily functions – such as thinking, feeling, walking, and so on – are enabled by neurons connecting via our synapses, and these connections generate electrical activity. We know that certain brain waves are associated with particular cognitive states.
In ADHD, divergent patterns have been found in the (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8262973/) P3B and N200 waves, which are related to attention, inhibition and self-control. In ADHD, the P3B wave is usually weaker or delayed, reflecting difficulties in attention and information processing.
The N200 wave is involved in detecting errors, controlling impulses, and focusing our attention. In people with ADHD, abnormal functioning of the N200 wave may be related to problems with self-control and attention.
Neuroimaging in smaller brain areas
Neuroimaging technology provides further evidence of neurodevelopmental differences. Techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have found certain areas of smaller size or volume to be relevant in ADHD cases. These include:

The corpus callosum, a bundle of nerve fibres that connects the two halves of the brain.
The frontal lobe, which is closely related to controlling attention and executive functions.
The caudate nucleus, which is involved in the release of dopamine, a hormone that is fundamental for the brain’s reward system, with strong impacts on learning and motivation.

Lower cortex volume has also been found in regions such as the (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30276811) frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital cortex. As mentioned above, various studies have also found a lower volume in frontal areas, especially in (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32216846/) orbitofrontal areas. These areas are especially important for self-control and inhibition.
Chemical and metabolic factors
Other techniques, such as positron emission tomography, have detected lower glucose consumption (compared to people without ADHD) in four main areas: the cingulate gyrus (related to emotional regulation); in certain basal ganglia (particularly the caudate nucleus); in the right hippocampus (related to memory); and in the right thalamus (related to sensory processing).
Decreased metabolism in the parietal and temporal regions is also related to maintaining attention.
In addition, people with ADHD show (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21879383/) reduced blood flow to white matter in the frontal areas, which are essential for executive functions such as attention, self-control and decision-making. This could explain the difficulties in concentration and impulse control experienced by ADHD sufferers.
Reduced blood supply is also found other areas: the corpus callosum, where it prevents information from passing easily between the two hemispheres; the basal nuclei and the striatum, which are important in regulating of dopamine; and in the occipital, parietal and temporal regions, which may affect visual perception, spatial attention and verbal memory.
Lastly, at the chemical level, some studies report a decrease in dopamine in (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30276811) dopaminergic pathways in ADHD. Dopamine, as mentioned above, is fundamental in the brain’s reward system, meaning it affects motivation, attention and learning.
Ending stigma: ADHD and professional success
Neuroscience has provided enough evidence for us to stop seeing children with ADHD as lazy or rude. As demonstrated by the above examples, it is a neurodevelopmental condition.
This is fundamental to detecting (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Robert-Perna/publication/287694368_The_Diagnostic_and_Conceptual_Inconsistencies_of_ADHD_Leading_to_False_Positives/links/640a629d92cfd54f84e961bb/The-Diagnostic-and-Conceptual-Inconsistencies-of-ADHD-Leading-to-False-Positives.pdf) false positives (cases that are considered ADHD but are not), as it can help in reviewing environmental conditions and providing other possible explanations, as well as helping people with ADHD in an appropriate way.
It is essential to provide tools that help sufferers to deal with difficulties and, above all, to make the most of their strengths. All of this should always be done in coordination with schools, families and, if necessary, therapists.
It is true that school can be hard for many children with ADHD, but with the right support, many can go on to become successful adults. Celebrities like Will Smith, Jim Carrey and Justin Timberlake, as well as entrepreneurs like Ingvar Kamprad (Ikea) or Richard Branson (Virgin), are examples of this. The real challenge is therefore not ADHD itself, but how society understands and supports it.

This article is republished from (https://theconversation.com) The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the (https://theconversation.com/adhd-can-be-diagnosed-by-looking-at-brainwaves-heres-the-neuroscience-behind-it-245686) original article.

Forwarded by:
Michael Reeder LCPC
Baltimore, MD

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