Hyperactivity, distractibility, restlessness, lack of concentration or impulsivity meant a bonus in the form of better foraging tactics. Furthermore, individuals with this disorder were better guardians of the tribe and perhaps had more success in hunting. They never “turned off”!
Positive distraction
Dr. David Barack from the University of Pennsylvania states in his study that traits such as distractibility have persisted in the human genome for this very reason. They were just common and useful. “If these traits were truly negative, then surely they would have been eliminated or lost in some way during evolution.” In a certain context (from today’s point of view) dysfunctions were even necessary.
Experiment with berries
Barack and his team report that they analyzed data from 457 adults who had to search for “food” for eight minutes. They were supposed to collect as many berries as possible from the bushes. Those with ADHD symptoms were more successful! They gathered the berries that were most readily available. And then they quickly moved on to the next bush. More focused individuals carefully picked fruits, even those more difficult to reach, before moving on.
Even though the pickers with ADHD were left with unpicked berries, they fulfilled a clear task – they collected the most food the fastest. There were 206 of the mentioned 457, and certainly half did not even have seemingly noticeable symptoms of ADHD.
Do we give them a chance?
Today, it is certainly a negligible ability, but scientists agree that using the disordered traits of individuals could contribute to their better inclusion in work and social processes. And it is known that children with ADHD tend to thrive when they have more opportunities to move and explore than when they are forced to sit for several hours a day.
Adjust education systems
Michael J. Reiss, a professor at University College London, notes that ADHD can help in situations where physical activity and quick decision-making are needed. “ADHD is a problem, yes, but it’s largely driven by today’s environment.” They say we should consider how we can change our education systems.
“To foster this cognitive style rather than resist it and further harm the individual.” A certain restlessness was necessary for migrating ancestors, they monitored the environment better, looked for new and new things, neglected unnecessary information. They were also more adaptable.
ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) – what are the symptoms and treatment? Videohub
