Hyperactivity and inattention: traits inherited from prehistory ?

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Hyperactivity and inattention, emblematic traits of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), are frequently perceived as handicaps in our contemporary society, where sustained concentration and the execution of repetitive tasks are emphasized. However, an evolutionary theory offers a radically different angle of approach: what if these characteristics, far from being weaknesses, were in fact ancestral adaptations, particularly suited to the lifestyle of our distant hunter-gatherer ancestors ?

Recent research by philosopher and neuroscientist David Barack and his team, as well as the informed observations of specialists such as Annie Swanepoel,shed new light on this hypothesis.

An Evolutionary Legacy: Survival of the Attentive

To understand the origins of ADHD, it is essential to trace the evolution of the human species, even in a synthetic way. For nearly 95% of our history, Homo sapiens lived as hunter-gatherers, a way of life that required constant vigilance in the face of environmental fluctuations and an ability to react quickly to opportunities and threats. Annie Swanepoel, a psychiatrist specializing in childhood and adolescence, points out that this lifestyle has likely shaped our cognitive abilities.

In this context, the traits now associated with ADHD—impulsiveness, thrill-seeking, and distractibility—might have provided a distinct advantage. A hunter who could detect movement in the thicket or a gatherer who could explore new territories in search of edible plants would have had a better chance of survival and providing for his or her group. This ability to switch quickly from one task to another, often considered a maladjustment today, would have been a vital asset in an unpredictable and sometimes hostile environment.

The Modern Gatherer Test

Recent work by David Barack provides empirical support for this theory. In the midst of the health crisis, Barack and his team designed a simple experiment to try to confirm this hypothesis. They designed an online game that simulated berry picking, reproducing a basic foraging scenario. The 457 participants had to determine the right time to abandon one bush in favor of another, with each bush seeing its berry production gradually decrease.

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Contrary to expectations, subjects with ADHD symptoms stood out for their superior performance, optimizing their harvest by changing bushes more quickly than their non-ADHD counterparts. ” These characteristics can be beneficial in certain situations, such as when searching for food» Barack explains. This observation suggests that the characteristics associated with ADHD, far from being defects, could embody a form of cognition adapted to environments that value flexibility and adaptation< /strong>.

Adapting to our modern world: A framework for rethinking ADHD

If these traits were once assets, how can we integrate them into our modern society, which is largely structured around repetitive routines and long-term tasks? According to Barack, a better understanding of the decisions that people with ADHD excel at could guide their decision-making. environment.

For example, limiting the options available in certain everyday situations could lighten cognitive load and promote better decisions. ” The classic example is the supermarket, where the overabundance of choices can be overwhelming ” Barack points out. According to him, it would be possible to limit this excess of choice by offering fewer offers (in this specific case, items) at the same time.

Annie Swanepoel shares this vision, emphasizing that “it is not a pathology in the child, but rather a gap between the child and his environment“. For example, she cites the case of a teenager whose ADHD symptoms improved after joining a college football team, with intense physical activity becoming a natural outlet to channel your energy and improve your concentration. “ You have two options ” she concluded. “ Modifying the child, for example, with medication, or adapting the environment ”.

The emergence of this new evolutionary perspective allows us to consider ADHD from a radically different perspective. Rather than a simple disorder, it would have contributed to making our species more adapted to its environment and to ensuring the survival of our ancestors. ADHD affects between 3.5 and 5.6% of the world's population. It would therefore seem a little complex, even illusory, to fully adapt our society to the unique functioning of affected individuals, but this study has at least the merit of enriching our understanding of human evolution.

• ADHD may ultimately be an ancestral adaptation that served hunter-gatherers well.
• People with ADHD excel in environments that require flexibility and quick decision-making.
• Adapting the environments of people with ADHD could improve their well-being in modern society.

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