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Related Experiment Videos

The evolution of hyperactivity, impulsivity and cognitive diversity.

Jonathan Williams1, Eric Taylor

  • 1Centre for Advanced Study, Oslo, Norway. johwilliams@gmail.com

Journal of the Royal Society, Interface
|July 20, 2006
PubMed
Summary

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may offer societal benefits through behavioral diversity. Unpredictable actions by a minority group can optimize collective task performance and fitness.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary psychology
  • Neurodevelopmental disorders
  • Behavioral genetics

Background:

  • Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects 5-10% of the population.
  • The seven-repeat allele of DRD4, linked to ADHD, shows positive selection in human evolution.
  • Previous theories on ADHD's evolutionary role have not explained its minority status.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the evolutionary status of ADHD.
  • To explore the impact of behavioral diversity, specifically unpredictability, on group fitness.
  • To determine if ADHD confers societal benefits beyond individual effects.

Main Methods:

  • Simulations of the Changing Food group task were used.
  • Behavioral unpredictability, a key ADHD trait, was modeled as a minority group characteristic.

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  • The study examined risk-taking and information-sharing dynamics within groups.

    • Main Results:

    • Unpredictable behavior by a minority group optimized performance in group exploration tasks.
    • These tasks involved individual risk-taking for group benefit, similar to evolved altruism.
    • Societal benefits from diversity were observed both within and outside the typical range.

    Conclusions:

    • Individually impairing gene combinations like ADHD can provide specific societal benefits.
    • These benefits can be selected at the societal level, not just the individual.
    • This perspective explains ADHD's prevalence, distribution, and heterogeneity.