CAA CAA ADHD Neuroscience and Brain-Based Understanding 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which neurotransmitter is primarily implicated in ADHD's impact on attention regulation?
- Serotonin
- Dopamine (Correct answer)
- GABA
- Glutamate
Correct answer: Dopamine
Dopamine dysregulation in the prefrontal cortex is the primary neurochemical factor underlying attention difficulties in ADHD.
Question 2: Which brain region's dysfunction most directly accounts for working memory deficits in ADHD?
- Hippocampus
- Occipital lobe
- Prefrontal cortex (Correct answer)
- Cerebellum
Correct answer: Prefrontal cortex
The prefrontal cortex governs working memory, and its reduced volume and activity in ADHD directly causes working memory impairments.
Question 3: According to Russell Barkley's model, ADHD is fundamentally a disorder of:
- Intelligence
- Behavioral inhibition and self-regulation (Correct answer)
- Memory storage
- Language processing
Correct answer: Behavioral inhibition and self-regulation
Barkley frames ADHD as a failure of behavioral inhibition that cascades into deficits in self-regulation and executive function.
Question 4: The neurological explanation for 'hyperfocus' in ADHD is best described as:
- Overactive serotonin system
- Dopamine surge during high-interest tasks (Correct answer)
- Reduced amygdala activity
- Increased GABA release
Correct answer: Dopamine surge during high-interest tasks
Hyperfocus occurs when highly stimulating activities trigger sufficient dopamine release to sustain attention without impairment.
Question 5: Executive function development in individuals with ADHD typically lags neurotypical peers by approximately:
- 1–2 years
- 3–5 years (Correct answer)
- 6–8 years
- 10+ years
Correct answer: 3–5 years
Research by Barkley indicates executive function development in ADHD is delayed by approximately 3–5 years compared to neurotypical peers.
Question 6: Which concept explains why ADHD clients can perform well one day but struggle significantly the next?
- Learned helplessness
- Inconsistent dopamine availability (Correct answer)
- Poor sleep habits alone
- Low motivation
Correct answer: Inconsistent dopamine availability
Day-to-day variability in ADHD performance reflects inconsistent neurochemical availability rather than willpower or effort.
CAA CAA ADHD Neuroscience and Brain-Based Understanding 1
Which neurotransmitter is primarily implicated in ADHD's impact on attention regulation?