disorder among children and teenagers. But what’s going on inside the brain and body

最常見的一種精神病變。但他們的大腦和身體到底發生了什麼事？

of these individuals and could it actually be an advantage?

而這有可能成為他們的優勢嗎？

While some environmental factors such as maternal drinking and smoking during pregnancy may

大腦的發展跟母親懷孕時的酗酒和抽煙等外在因素息息相關，

play a role in brain development, ADHD is highly linked to your genetics. And most of

除此之外，注意力不足過動症跟基因也有很大的關聯。這些基因絕大多數

these genes are directly associated to the brain’s reward pathways. It turns out that

都跟大腦的獎賞路徑有直接的關聯。注意力不足過動症者

those with ADHD have lower levels of dopamine receptors - dopamine being the ‘feel good’

腦中的多巴胺接受器比一般人少，多巴胺是能讓我們快樂的賀爾蒙。

hormone. This means they are less sensitive to rewards, ultimately making them feel bored

這代表他們較不容易感到「獎賞」，造成他們容易感到無聊

or unstimulated by what may keep another individual entertained.

或是對一般人覺得有趣的事物毫無反應

We also see a major difference when we look at fMRI scans. Normally, a brain at rest shows

功能性磁振造影也顯示出極大的差異。一般來說，大腦在休息時

activity in the default mode network, and quickly switches over to the task-positive

會處在「預設模式網絡」的狀態，並在你需要專注於某項事物時

network when your focus is required. But for ADHD brains, the default mode network fails

迅速切換到「任務正網絡」。但對於擁有注意力不足過動症的大腦，預設模式網絡

to automatically shut down, meaning both networks stay active, resulting in a decreased ability

無法自動關閉，造成兩個網絡同時運作，導致專注的能力降低。

to concentrate. Scientists have also observed a thinner prefrontal cortex in ADHD patients,

科學家還發現注意力不足過動症的患者的大腦額前葉皮質比一般人薄

which is responsible for attention control, emotional regulation, and response inhibition.

那是負責注意力控制、情感調節，還有反應抑制的地方

As a result of these difference, Ritalin is often prescribed for ADHD; it helps to increase

針對這些差異，醫生常常開利他林這種藥給注意力不足過動症患者。它能幫助增加

dopamine concentration in the synapse, increasing the likelihood of it binding to the fewer

突觸的多巴胺濃度，增加多巴胺跟較少量的接收器連結的機會。

receptors. However, there is conflicting research on its overall efficacy and concern

然而，有另外的研究質疑利他林的功效並擔心這藥物

over unknown long term side effects. Of course, many non-ADHD individuals have also been known

造成未知的長期副作用。當然，有很多案例是非注意力不足過動症的患者

to abuse ritalin as a method to increase concentration during work or school to study more effectively.

濫用利他林來提昇工作時的專注力或讀書上的效率。

Perhaps more controversial is the dramatic increase in diagnosis of ADHD over the years.

更有爭議的是，近幾年被診斷出有注意力不足過動症的人數急遽增加

Whether warranted or not, a 5% increase was documented each year from 2003-2011 in the

先無論可信度如何，資料顯示美國在2003到2011年間，患者都以5%的成長率在增加

U.S. Medication prescriptions have also followed a similar pattern, with some reports indicating

藥物用量也依循類似的模式，部分調查報告指出

a 35% increase in dispensed prescriptions from 2008-2012.

2008到2012年間，藥物的配給量增加了35%

But it turns out that there may be an evolutionary advantage to having classic ADHD symptoms.

然而，事實證明注意力不足過動症反而有其益處

For hunter-gatherers and nomadic cultures, being restless and hyperactive translates

對於獵人和遊牧民族來說，處在躁動和過度活躍的狀態下能

directly into higher chances of successfully bringing home food and increased vigilance

提高狩獵的成功率、高度的警覺也較能

for protecting offspring. This means a greater chance of survival and passing on your genes.

保護自己的子孫。這間接提高了生存率和傳宗接代的機會。

Even in a current study of settled vs. nomadic members of the Ariaal tribe in Kenya, nomads

在最近的一個關於肯亞的阿里爾族裡定居與遊牧比較的研究中發現，那些遊牧者中

that had a higher frequency of genes linked to ADHD were better at getting food.

擁有注意力不足過動症相關基因的人都比較會打獵

On top of this, studies have routinely shown that those with ADHD tend to be more creative

除此之外，有很多研究都指出那些注意力不足過動症患者

in both controlled tests and in real life, as they often think randomly and outside the

不論是在測試中或現實生活中，都較一般人有創意，因為他們天馬行空並

box. Finally, while structured and orderly school environments may not be conducive to

跳脫框架思考。最後，雖然比較制式的學校環境對於注意力不足過動症的兒童來說

ADHD children, many adults thrive in the right work environment. Studies show that if their

比較不利，但很多大人在適合的工作環境上成為佼佼者。研究指出他們高出常人的精力

high energy is channeled into the right careers, especially those that demand great resourcefulness

如果用在對的職業，尤其時那些需要非常多點子

and adaptability, this once viewed handicap can become a strong asset.

和絕佳適應力的職業—這些曾經被認為是殘障的人將會是最強大的助力

Special thanks to audible for supporting this episode to give you a free 30 day trial at

特別感謝 audible 對於本集的支持，他們提供 audible.com/asap 的

audible.com/asap. This week we wanted to recommend the book ‘The ADHD Advantage’ by Dale

30天免費試用期。這禮拜我們想要推薦 Dale Archer 的 'The ADHD Advantage' 這本書，

Archer, which highlights how some of the most successful entrepreneurs, leaders and entertainers

它提到了注意力不足過動症是怎麼幫助那些成功的企業家、領導人，和一些藝人

were strengthened by their ADHD. You can get a free 30 day trial at audible.com/asap and

達到他們的成就。你可以取得 audible.com/asap 的30天免費試用並

choose from a massive selection! We love them as they are great when you’re on the go.

選擇你想看的！我們將最好的推薦給你

And subscribe for more weekly science videos!

快訂閱更多每週科學影片吧！