ADHD Traits May Provide Foraging Advantage, Challenging Negative Associations
In a groundbreaking study published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania have suggested that traits associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may actually provide an advantage when it comes to foraging. While ADHD traits such as impulsivity and distractibility are known to make everyday tasks more challenging, they may also aid humans in foraging more effectively, a key technique used by hunter-gatherers and nomadic tribes to survive.
The study challenges the negative associations typically associated with ADHD, which is considered one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The findings support the “evolutionary mismatch” theory of neurodivergence, which suggests that ADHD traits are only disadvantages in certain environments.
To conduct the study, researchers developed an online berry-picking game based on optimal foraging theory. Participants were instructed to collect as many berries as possible under time pressure. They had to choose between continuing to harvest from the same bushes, depleting them of berries and decreasing their yields, or traveling to different bushes that were more abundant in fruit but cost them precious time.
After the game, participants completed an online screening assessment on ADHD symptoms. The researchers found that those who self-reported ADHD-like symptoms moved between patches more frequently and collected more berries overall. This suggests that individuals with ADHD-like behavior have increased foraging proficiency, which may serve an adaptive function in certain environments.
While the study has some limitations, such as the lack of clinical assessment and the use of an opt-in online sample, health experts believe it has important implications for understanding conditions like ADHD. Annie Swanepoel, a child and adolescent psychiatrist who studies neurodivergent conditions from an evolutionary perspective, explains that ADHD is not a disorder but a variation that gives an advantage in certain environments where risk-taking and high energy levels are advantageous.
Swanepoel emphasizes that the negative symptoms associated with ADHD are a result of the “evolutionary mismatch” between certain human attributes and the demands of modern life. Our modern environments, characterized as WEIRD (Western, Industrialized, Educated, Rich, Democratic), are vastly different from the hunter-gatherer environments our ancestors lived in for the majority of human history. Children with ADHD symptoms are more likely to thrive in environments with higher activity levels and hands-on learning.
Graham Music, a child and adolescent psychotherapist at London’s Tavistock Clinic, highlights the importance of considering a person’s environment when understanding how neurodivergent traits like ADHD manifest. Instead of viewing ADHD as a problem that needs solving in a child, Music suggests asking what environment they might flourish in.
This study challenges the prevailing notion that ADHD is solely a disadvantage and provides a fresh perspective on how these traits can be advantageous in certain contexts. By understanding the evolutionary significance of ADHD-like behavior, we can create environments that better accommodate neurodivergent individuals and allow them to thrive.
