Comment by steve_adams_86
5 hours ago
There are only papers which suggest this could be true, none that conclusively prove it. That I’m aware of.
There are some cool studies done where people with a without ADHD are tasked to forage berries. The people with ADHD do better and adhere to foraging patterns which existing theories suggest would be more optimal.
A lot of the studies like that indicate the individual with the condition might benefit more from ADHD than the group they’re in, but I’m not sure that studies have explored group benefits very much.
There’s an often cited paper in which nomadic men who carry a certain ADHD-related allele (DRD4-7R, a dopamine reception variant with ADHD traits and novelty seeking) tend to have better nutritional status. I can’t recall much about it or how high quality it is.
I’ve always thought, it’s not absurd to think there different development routes which the brain takes depending on the environment it develops in.
With your foraging example, it does make me think ADHD is a small group/individual optimisation. Prioritising high vigilance and individual productivity over social cohesion.
I speak with no authority. I don’t even know how such a theory could be tested.
> I’ve always thought, it’s not absurd to think there different development routes which the brain takes depending on the environment it develops in.
What do you think nutritional stunting means?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stunted_growth
I don’t mean from a nutritional standpoint, but a behavioural perspective. Smaller groups would have an higher percentage of responsibility per individual to be vigilant and proactive.
It would make sense to me that evolutionary there would be different mental development paths depending on the requirements of their situation.
This is coming from my understanding that ADHD is more prevalent in stressful upbringings.