Study Suggests Individuals with ADHD-like Traits May Have Evolutionary Foraging Advantage

A new study suggests that individuals with ADHD-like traits may have an evolutionary advantage when it comes to foraging for food in the wild. The research indicates that people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) characteristics, such as difficulty regulating their attention and restlessness, exhibit better foraging strategies compared to those with neurotypical traits. Neuroscientist David Barack and his team conducted an experiment involving 457 participants, revealing that individuals without ADHD tended to stay too long at a berry bush, resulting in suboptimal foraging. On the other hand, those with ADHD-like traits were more likely to leave a patch sooner and less likely to exploit any one berry bush, ultimately collecting more berries overall.