Science Savvy is a podcast where I, Carmen, break down the fascinating science behind everyday life. With my background in pharmacology and biomedical engineering, I explore topics ranging from how our brains work to the science behind emotions, habits, and more. Each episode is designed to make complex scientific concepts accessible and fun, helping you better understand the world (and yourself)! Whether you’re a science lover or just curious, Science Savvy offers bite-sized insights that fit right into your day.
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Science Savvy is a podcast where I, Carmen, break down the fascinating science behind everyday life. With my background in pharmacology and biomedical engineering, I explore topics ranging from how our brains work to the science behind emotions, habits, and more. Each episode is designed to make complex scientific concepts accessible and fun, helping you better understand the world (and yourself)! Whether you’re a science lover or just curious, Science Savvy offers bite-sized insights that fit right into your day.
Attention, Please: What ADHD Can Teach Us About the Brain
Science Savvy
38 minutes 47 seconds
10 months ago
Attention, Please: What ADHD Can Teach Us About the Brain
Welcome to the ADHD episode, part of Science Savvy with Carmen. In this episode, I explore what it really means to live with ADHD and how science is reshaping the way we understand it. With my background in pharmacology and biomedical engineering, I break down the science behind attention, dopamine, and neurodiversity, and unpack how it all shows up in everyday life.
This episode covers how neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine influence focus, what makes ADHD more of a difference than a deficit, and how modern life and social media interact with attention challenges. I’m joined by my brother Alex, who has ADHD, for a candid and personal conversation about medication, coping strategies, creativity, and hyperfocus. Whether you’re navigating ADHD yourself, supporting someone who is, or just curious about how attention works, this episode offers clear and engaging insights grounded in real research.
Science Savvy helps you understand the systems shaping your thoughts, health, and behavior. If you're ready to explore your body and brain with a little more clarity, you're in the right place.
Further reading and references:
Lee, Y. C., et al. (2022). Effects of mindfulness-based interventions in children and adolescents with ADHD: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(22), 15198. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192215198van der Oord, S., Bögels, S. M., & Peijnenburg, D. (2012). The effectiveness of mindfulness training for children with ADHD and mindful parenting for their parents. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 21(1), 139-147. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-011-9457-0Arnsten, A. F. T. (2009). The emerging neurobiology of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: The key role of the prefrontal association cortex. The Journal of Pediatrics, 154(5), I-S43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2009.01.018Volkow, N. D., & Swanson, J. M. (2013). Clinical practice: Adult attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder. The New England Journal of Medicine, 369(20), 1935-1944. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMcp1212625Faraone, S. V., Biederman, J., & Mick, E. (2006). The age-dependent decline of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A meta-analysis of follow-up studies. Psychological Medicine, 36(2), 159-165. https://doi.org/10.1017/S003329170500471XSwanson, J. M., & Volkow, N. D. (2002). Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of medications for ADHD: A review of stimulant and nonstimulant formulations. Molecular Psychiatry, 8(7), 252-264. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.mp.4001326Keng, S. L., Smoski, M. J., & Robins, C. J. (2011). Effects of mindfulness on psychological health: A review of empirical studies. Clinical Psychology Review, 31(6), 1041-1056. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2011.04.006Wiklund, J., Yu, W., Tucker, R., & Marino, L. D. (2017). ADHD, impulsivity, and entrepreneurship. Journal of Business Venturing, 32(6), 627-656. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2017.07.002White, H. A., & Shah, P. (2011). Creative style and achievement in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Personality and Individual Differences, 50(5), 673-677. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2010.12.015Armstrong, T. (2010). The Power of Neurodiversity: Unleashing the Advantages of Your Differently Wired Brain. Da Capo Press.Ashinoff, B. K., & Abu-Akel, A. (2021). Hyperfocus: The forgotten frontier of attention. Psychological Research, 85, 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00426-020-01420-w
Science Savvy
Science Savvy is a podcast where I, Carmen, break down the fascinating science behind everyday life. With my background in pharmacology and biomedical engineering, I explore topics ranging from how our brains work to the science behind emotions, habits, and more. Each episode is designed to make complex scientific concepts accessible and fun, helping you better understand the world (and yourself)! Whether you’re a science lover or just curious, Science Savvy offers bite-sized insights that fit right into your day.
