AD(H)D, Autonomic Nervous System (ANS), Hyperactivity, Lethargy...

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Hyperactivity,

like other traits associated with ADD,

is a normal stage in the maturation of a child.

In attention deficit disorder,

stages becomes states:

the individual's psychological development remains static.

Behaviors and emotional patterns remain at a level characteristic of the toddler.

Hyperactivity and its counterpart,

the lethargy of many children and adults with ADD,

are both exaggerations of body states first experienced during toddlerhood,

from about the end of "the second nine months of gestation" to about the age of eighteen months.

They each represent the activity of the autonomic nervous system,

which,

in ADD,

is poorly controlled.

It is helpful to look closer at how that works.

The nervous system,

with the brain and spinal cord at its center,

has two major parts.

The voluntary nervous system moves the muscles of the trunk,

limbs and head,

in deliberate actions such as speech or changes of position.

The automatic nervous system (ANS) is autonomous from,

independent of,

our conscious will,

as its name implies.

It controls what are called the smooth muscles,

which line the walls of organs such as the gut,

blood vessels,

glands and airways in the lungs.

It governs body states such as the release of hormones,

blood flow to internal organs and to the skin and the contraction of the muscles in the intestines.

Autonomic nerves also set the baseline tension level of voluntary muscles,

as well as skin temperature and the erection or relaxation of hair follicles.

In general,

they provide the wiring for a stable internal chemical and physiological body environment.

The body's physiological states are directly influenced by emotions because the part of the cortex that processes emotions also oversees the ANS.

The tummy aches of the sensitive child are muscles cramps caused by autonomic signals,

triggered by unconscious fears and tensions.

"Gut feelings" express the effect of emotions on the ANS,

as does the common report that "my hair stood on end,"

Autonomic nerves are responsible for tight muscles and explain why some things make us "sick to the stomach," or give us a "pain in the neck."

The ANS has two opposing divisions:

the sympathetic,

which expends energy,

and the parasympathetic,

which conserves energy.

When we are in a sympathetically aroused state,

our muscles tense,

our heart rate increases,

blood flow goes to our limbs and adrenaline is pumped through our bodies.

The firing of sympathetic nerves creates a body climate of high arousal,

important in survival because it enables us to move quickly in either escape or self defense.

This is the well-known- fight-or-flight response.

In daily life,

we experience it as the body state associated with excitement.

Gabor Mate, "Scattered", P130-131.

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Emotion regulation via the autonomic nervous system in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).


Abstract
Despite growing interest in conceptualizing ADHD as involving disrupted emotion regulation, few studies have examined the physiological mechanisms related to emotion regulation in children with this disorder. This study examined parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system reactivity via measures of respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and cardiac pre-ejection period (PEP) in children with ADHD (n=32) and typically developing controls (n=34), using a novel emotion task with four conditions: negative induction, negative suppression, positive induction, and positive suppression of affect. Both groups showed strong task-response effects in RSA. However, typically developing children showed systematic variation in parasympathetic activity (RSA) depending on both emotion valence (more activation for negative emotion, reduced activation for positive emotion) and task demand (more activation for suppression than induction). In contrast, children with ADHD displayed a stable pattern of elevated parasympathetic activity (RSA) across all task conditions compared to baseline. No group differences in sympathetic activity (PEP) were observed. It is concluded ADHD in childhood is associated with abnormal parasympathetic mechanisms involved in emotion regulation.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21394506

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Emotion, Decision Making and the Orbitofrontal Cortex

The somatic marker hypothesis provides a systems-level neuroanatomical and cognitive framework for decision making and the influence on it by emotion. The key idea of this hypothesis is that decision making is a process that is influenced by marker signals that arise in bioregulatory processes, including those that express themselves in emotions and feelings. This influence can occur at multiple levels of operation, some of which occur consciously and some of which occur non-consciously. Here we review studies that confirm various predictions from the hypothesis. The orbitofrontal cortex represents one critical structure in a neural system subserving decision making. Decision making is not mediated by the orbitofrontal cortex alone, but arises from large-scale systems that include other cortical and subcortical components. Such structures include the amygdala, the somatosensory/insular cortices and the peripheral nervous system. Here we focus only on the role of the orbitofrontal cortex in decision making and emotional processing, and the relationship between emotion, decision making and other cognitive functions of the frontal lobe, namely working memory.

http://cercor.oxfordjournals.org/content/10/3/295.short

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Disorder-Specific Dissociation of Orbitofrontal Dysfunction in Boys With Pure Conduct Disorder During Reward and Ventrolateral Prefrontal Dysfunction in Boys With Pure ADHD During Sustained Attention


Conclusions: The findings revealed a process-related dissociation of prefrontal dysfunction in ADHD and conduct disorder patients. Attention-related dysfunction in the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex was seen in ADHD patients, and reward-related dysfunction in the orbitofrontal cortex was seen in conduct disorder patients. These findings, together with the pattern of paralimbic dysfunction demonstrated among children with conduct disorder during sustained attention, support theories of abnormalities in orbitofrontal-paralimbic motivation networks in individuals with conduct disorder and, in contrast, ventrolateral fronto-cerebellar attention network dysfunction in individuals with ADHD.

http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/arti...3&journalID=13

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Right Orbito Frontal Cortex (OFC) is part of the emotional self regulation system.

Behind the forehead in the vicinity of the right eye is where one of the most important regulatory centers in the the brain is located: the orbitofrontal cortex(*1)

It is part of the prefrontal cortex,

that grey matter most involved in social intelligence,

impulse control and attention.

It is also important in short term working memory.

The orbitofrontal cortex-

so named because of its proximity to the eye socket,

know as the orbit-

-is more developed on the right side and appears to dominate its counterpart in the left hemisphere.

A complex condition like ADD cannot be traced to just one part of the brain.

Many circuits and systems must be involved...disturbances of the orbitofrontal cortex are...implicated in disorders of impulse inhibition and emotional self-regulation,

including ADD....

"The right orbito frontal cortex (OFC)... has connections with virtually every other part of the cortex.

It also has rich connections with the lower brain structures,

where the body's internal physiological states are controlled and monitored,

and where the most primitive and powerful emotions such as fear and rage are generated.

It is at the center of the brain's reward and motivation apparatus and contains more reward chemicals associated with pleasure and joy-

-dopamine and endorphins-

-than almost any other area of the cortex.

Via its connections with the vision centers,

the OFC plays a role in visual-spatial orientation,

the locating of objects in space....

The OFC has a major role in the control of attention.

From all the information about the external environment and internal body states that are entering our brain,

the OFC helps to pick out what to focus on...


...the right OFC interprets the emotional content of communications-

-the other person's body language,

eye movements and tone of voice.

It carries out a constant and instantaneous computation of the emotional significance of situations....

The OFC also functions in impulse control,

helping to inhibit the lower centers in the brain where urgent emotional drives orginate.

When it is working smoothly,

it can delay emotional reactions long enough to allow mature,

more sophisticated responses to emerge.

When its connections are disrupted,

it lacks this capacity.

At such times primitive,

unprocessed emotions will flood our minds,

overwhelm our thinking process and control our behaviour.

Finally, the OFC records and stores the emotional effects of experiences...

-Gabor Mate M.D., "Scattered", P.78-79
__________________

[Drewbacca]

What does any of this have to do with polar bear migration?

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Originally Posted by Drewbacca

What does any of this have to do with polar bear migration?

Being constantly chased by a Polar Bear = Uncontrollable STRESS


Stress interferes with development of the right prefrontal cortex.


I am curious to know more about the research in post number #4.


I am not sure if this information in post #4 ,

exactly supports Dr.Mate theory?

Or is this even newer information since Dr.Mate wrote "Scattered" in 1999?

It does seem to support the overall theory.

But I am not sure of the specifics and need to learn more.

I need to learn more about the different parts of the cortex,

prefrontal cortex,

Orbito Frontal Cortex in regards to Conduct Disorder information.

ventrolateral fronto-cerebellar cortex in regards to ADHD,

(and all the other parts of the cortex)

higher ,middle and lower brain reaction etc....


I am not sure which order everything works?

I still haven't figured out the cerebellum effects the prefrontal cortex?

As well as what "PURE" conduct Disorder is?......

As well as how the information might be helpful in understanding how to improve working memory in people with ADHD?

As well as motivation and reward....

Information below is from part of the quote from the research in post #4,

that I need to learn more about....

Attention-related dysfunction in the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex was seen in ADHD patients,

and reward-related dysfunction in the orbitofrontal cortex was seen in conduct disorder patients.

These findings,

together with the pattern of paralimbic dysfunction demonstrated among children with conduct disorder during sustained attention,

support theories of abnormalities in orbitofrontal-paralimbic motivation networks in individuals with conduct disorder and,

in contrast, ventrolateral fronto-cerebellar attention network dysfunction in individuals with ADHD.

http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/arti...3&journalID=13

[Drewbacca]

Well played, sir. Well played.

[Peripheral]

Originally Posted by Drewbacca

Well played, sir. Well played.

I assumed everyone knew that I was talking about the effects of uncontrollable constant stress?

I mentioned stress in the Power of Negative Thinking thread.

There was no intent to trick anyone.

I was staring at Retromancer's avatar and the polar bear looked a little to cute.

Gave me a little bit of anxiety.

Positive thinking requires negative feedback.


One exception.

Is early brain development,(especially the Right OFC)

while self regulation is being developed for the first time.

(critical time of brain development of self regulation)


Development needs positive feedback.

The right prefrontal region of the brain,

does not develop when over-exposed to good negative stress.


If the parenting adult with a new born baby was chased constantly chased,

the baby might develop a hyperactive self regulation.

Self regulation is stuck in the hyperactive state.

aswell as the babys prefrontal cortex might be underdeveloped.

But other parts of the motor cortex might be larger than "normal".

http://www.addforums.com/forums/show...46#post1343946

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Originally Posted by Drewbacca

Well played, sir. Well played.

Drewy,

I guess the cards do need to be played a certain way.

But there is no trick.

In general I have never changed opinion in about three years.

If there was one criticism I have of "Scattered",

It is that it starts at chapter 10.

After reading chapter 10,

go to chapter 1.

The origns and healing of Attention Deficit disorder

The emotional information in the earlier 9 chapters,

makes it hard to focus on the information in chapter 10.







I started reading Scattered three years ago.

And I am just starting to get it.

Why else have I not presented such solid information in the past?

Because I just figured that part out,

just a few days ago.

After three years.


I have a very serious question to ask?

Could some people have a stronger predisposition,

to inheriting ADHD?

And other people have a stronger ADHD influence found in the environment

I think its both.

And would settle for 50:50.

Emotion : Genetic

In regards to treatment and development.

I don't think this changes any knowledge,

that we know about genetic factor,

in the development of ADHD.

And also how the medication works.

Development Disorder

Disorder Development

[Drewbacca]

I'll probably comment regarding the thread tomorrow... I need to copy and paste everything into a form that I can actually read. LOL

[Peripheral]

Originally Posted by Drewbacca

I'll probably comment regarding the thread tomorrow... I need to copy and paste everything into a form that I can actually read. LOL

Take your time.

It took me three years.

That is fascinating now that you mention it!!

I wonder what preferences in format styles,

would be in different people with ADHD?

Might point to similarities.

[Peripheral]

Since Dizfriz has posted many times that Dr.Mate is wrong,

in my threads.

I would really like to hear his opinion on the information in this thread.

[Drewbacca]

Hyperactivity and its counterpart,
the lethargy of many children and adults with ADD,
are both exaggerations of body states first experienced during toddlerhood.

Any references concerning this childhood lethargy he speaks of? I haven't heard of any such thing.

The tummy aches of the sensitive child are muscles cramps caused by autonomic signals, triggered by unconscious fears and tensions.

Sure, but a lot of different things can trigger these signals... not just fear/tension.

Regarding the study: Emotion regulation via the autonomic nervous system in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

I'm going to have to read it a couple more times, but it seems that the only thing that they found was a positive correlation regarding the respiratory rate of ADHD children over the spectrum of study. There was a significant variation among the ADHD children and a non-significant variation among the non-ADHD children. It doesn't seem to support causation on my first reading but I'll check it out again when my eyes and mind are fresh. Overall, it's an interesting article at the very least.

When its connections are disrupted,
it lacks this capacity.
At such times primitive,
unprocessed emotions will flood our minds,
overwhelm our thinking process and control our behaviour.

I believe this is correct to a point, but overall the statement is quite vague. Where is he going with this and what are the references that he is referring back to?

I am not sure which order everything works?
I still haven't figured out the cerebellum effects the prefrontal cortex?
As well as what "PURE" conduct Disorder is?......
As well as how the information might be helpful in understanding how to improve working memory in people with ADHD?
As well as motivation and reward....

I really think that you should move away from Mate a bit on these issues as this is not his area of expertise. He's throwing out some ideas, but he really isn't supporting them very well. I know I've mentioned it before but I'll say it again. Robert Sapolsky is someone you want to read up on. He has more or less dedicated his life and research to these exact issues and is well regarded in his field. He is also widely published online in the form of videos and has written several books for the general reader. You will find much stronger arguments along the same lines through his work... and as an added bonus, the will be supported by the scientific establishment to a much higher degree than any of Mate's ideas.

http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/arti...3&journalID=13

I'm not sure about the ADHD link to all this. I think it's important to distinguish ADHD (the disorder) from ADHD (the characteristics) and I can't tell if that is being done in this referenced article. For whatever reason, the link doesn't work.

I was staring at Retromancer's avatar and the polar bear looked a little to cute.
Gave me a little bit of anxiety.

It just made me thirsty for a coke...

Positive thinking requires negative feedback.

I'm not sure that you are using the term feedback correctly? Please explain.

Be sure to check the links that I posted in the other thread regarding the first few months of childhood; while not ADHD specific, it is a good door to other research in the field. You'll find, generally speaking, a lot of research regarding the fear/emotion response and also the impact of empotions on the developing neurological environment of a child. There is very little research that I've found directly considering these issues on the basis of ADHD. I also wonder to what extent such a cause is ADHD and to what extent it is ADHD-like symptoms related to anxiety.

This field is predominately one about anxiety (ADHD a symtom of such in the cases we are referring to), which is why little research which is ADHD specific has been done. Mate tends to put the cart before the horse a lot and predict causation and outcome without having the underlying evidence to support his specific theory. In a broad context, he is right... but then he tries to narrow it down to a point where nothing is well defined or proven through proper testing with controls. It's very difficult to measure human behavior and much of what needs to be done to measure some of his conclusions would be unethical to test directly. So, it's hard to scientifically scrutinize these things and research is very slow coming.

In general I have never changed opinion in about three years.

That's what worries me about you, I have changed opinions many, many times over the last years as I constantly seek out new authors and new perspectives. I'm not arguing that Mate is wrong in any general sense, but that his specific conclusions don't hold water. Have you seen the movie Pi? If not, you should check it out. I think it has a way of showing how obsession regarding a single perspective can lead a person on a wild goose chase. You will start to see answers that simply aren't there, because you'll be looking for them in every article that you pick up. It's an obsessive behavior and it is dangerous.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQ1sZSCz47w

[Drewbacca]

Originally Posted by Geronimoo Back-Y-Rita

Could some people have a stronger predisposition, to inheriting ADHD? And other people have a stronger ADHD influence found in the environment?

I think its both.
And would settle for 50:50.

I have no answer for this, as there are simply too many unanswered questions at this point. I certainly think that both play a role, but to accurately state how much of one vs. how much of the other... or more realistically, how they interplay with one another... that's beyond my ability. Because we can't truly reproduce ADHD in lab rats and because it is unethical to experiment on children, we are left with no method with which to conduct the appropriate experiments. Our best bet is determining the appropriate genetic markers so that children can be compared to similar children from a young age... so that we can objectively account for environmental factors. In the mean time, our best option is twin-studies, but that provides little and infrequent data.