Media release

From: The Royal Society

ADHD explorers - Attention Deficits Linked with Proclivity to Explore while Foraging

Summary: Humans often forage for resources, choosing when to explore for new opportunities. Nomadic lifestyles favoring exploration are associated with genetic mutations implicated in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), inviting the hypothesis that this condition may impact foraging decisions. Here we tested this hypothesis by having human participants collect resources in a foraging task and then complete an ADHD self-report screening assessment. Participants who screened positive for ADHD departed resources sooner and earned higher reward rates than those who screened negative. Our findings suggest that ADHD attributes confer advantages while foraging, suggesting that this condition is a beneficial adaptation for exploration. 

ADHD explorers – People with ADHD are more likely to take a risk and explore new options, potentially leading to higher success when foraging. In an online berry foraging task, participants could choose between collecting from one bush, or travelling to pastures new. Participants who scored positively on a subsequent ADHD self-report test were likely to explore new patches sooner than those who screened negative, suggesting that ADHD ‘may reflect an adaptation favouring exploration over exploitation’