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There’s an argument that goes as follows: in a hunter/gatherer context, ADHD is beneficial because the natural world is so rich, an attention flitting around lo

There’s an argument that goes as follows: in a hunter/gatherer context, ADHD is beneficial because the natural world is so rich, an attention flitting around looking out for a potential prey hiding quietly in the trees, berries nestled in leaves, a predator that might lurk behind, etc… would be a good thing. In a world where kids are expected to sit their butt on a chair 8 hours a day listening to a burnt out adult babble incessantly, not so much.

elcritch 4y ago
In one article I read lately the author called the neural typical world “dopamine addicts”. As in modern societies favor humans who get dopamine from “following rituals”. At first I thought it was a bit absurd sounding, but it stuck in my brain and is a fascinating way of looking at the rise of ancient agricultural societies. As in agricultural societies required following “rituals” of various types (when to plant, when to harvest) and therefore favored genetics that give dopamine based on following them without immediate understanding why they were. ADHD is then a set that of trait that persists in those societies to provide certain levels of novelty/progress (i.e. that stubborn ~5% ADHD across most all modern societies). My hypothesis is that it’d be near a game theory optimum. That optimum is now shifting in multiple ways, almost becoming more U shaped where extremes are more favorable.
- cameronh90 4y ago
  I've often felt there's an optimal level of arousal for any given task. Pure creative tasks favour less arousal, organisational and physical tasks favour more arousal. Alcohol, caffeine (or coca leaves, khat, or similar) are tools we've used to shift our arousal needle closer towards what is useful for the task at hand. Unfortunately they do carry a number of pretty severe negative side effects - especially when you refine the coca leaves. In my past life, I would frequently myself spend the late night periods, sometimes a but drunk, coming up with new solutions to problems, then the highly caffeinated day time implementing them. It worked very well (until it didn't, but that's another story). So, I'm all about self modification, but I think anyone playing that game would do well to bear in mind the potential negative side effects. Being able to grind out for days and weeks at a time may be extremely useful in the short term, but boredom is a powerful motivator for finding alternative solutions. Maybe not a good idea to turn that off for everyone, every day. Also the medical industry has been proven wrong time and time again when they claim their drug has no long term side effects. People are still being told that SSRIs have no withdrawal effects.
  - elcritch 4y ago
    On SSRI 100% yes. I can stop Concerta and not even notice it aside from taking an extra nap. Miss my SSRI - no way, major dizziness. But then again I don’t plan to stop taking my SSRI ever. In my mind people wearing glasses also have severe withdrawal symptoms. ;)
    - cameronh90 4y ago
      Unfortunately SSRIs can't be permanent for everyone. They completely fixed my anxiety, but also made me gain 50kg and completely lose my sex drive, so I had to get off them. The withdrawals (for me there were brain zaps and confusion) didn't last forever though. However, my eyesight isn't ever going to improve ;)

elcritch 4y ago

In one article I read lately the author called the neural typical world “dopamine addicts”. As in modern societies favor humans who get dopamine from “following rituals”. At first I thought it was a bit absurd sounding, but it stuck in my brain and is a fascinating way of looking at the rise of ancient agricultural societies. As in agricultural societies required following “rituals” of various types (when to plant, when to harvest) and therefore favored genetics that give dopamine based on following them without immediate understanding why they were. ADHD is then a set that of trait that persists in those societies to provide certain levels of novelty/progress (i.e. that stubborn ~5% ADHD across most all modern societies). My hypothesis is that it’d be near a game theory optimum. That optimum is now shifting in multiple ways, almost becoming more U shaped where extremes are more favorable.

cameronh90 4y ago
I've often felt there's an optimal level of arousal for any given task. Pure creative tasks favour less arousal, organisational and physical tasks favour more arousal. Alcohol, caffeine (or coca leaves, khat, or similar) are tools we've used to shift our arousal needle closer towards what is useful for the task at hand. Unfortunately they do carry a number of pretty severe negative side effects - especially when you refine the coca leaves. In my past life, I would frequently myself spend the late night periods, sometimes a but drunk, coming up with new solutions to problems, then the highly caffeinated day time implementing them. It worked very well (until it didn't, but that's another story). So, I'm all about self modification, but I think anyone playing that game would do well to bear in mind the potential negative side effects. Being able to grind out for days and weeks at a time may be extremely useful in the short term, but boredom is a powerful motivator for finding alternative solutions. Maybe not a good idea to turn that off for everyone, every day. Also the medical industry has been proven wrong time and time again when they claim their drug has no long term side effects. People are still being told that SSRIs have no withdrawal effects.
- elcritch 4y ago
  On SSRI 100% yes. I can stop Concerta and not even notice it aside from taking an extra nap. Miss my SSRI - no way, major dizziness. But then again I don’t plan to stop taking my SSRI ever. In my mind people wearing glasses also have severe withdrawal symptoms. ;)
  - cameronh90 4y ago
    Unfortunately SSRIs can't be permanent for everyone. They completely fixed my anxiety, but also made me gain 50kg and completely lose my sex drive, so I had to get off them. The withdrawals (for me there were brain zaps and confusion) didn't last forever though. However, my eyesight isn't ever going to improve ;)