Time moves too slowly for hyperactive boys – health – 10 June 2009 – New Scientist

When they were given the drug methylphenidate, aka Ritalin, which boosts dopamine levels and is used to treat ADHD, brain activity in the ADHD group became indistinguishable from that of the healthy boys. “Ritalin enhances brain regions that are important for time perception in ADHD children,” concludes Rubia. The results are published in a special issue of Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, which is devoted to time perception DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2009.0014.

Rubia believes this is evidence that faulty time perception causes the major symptoms of ADHD, by making children perceive even short periods of inactivity as inordinately long and boring. Because novelty-seeking and risky behaviour increase dopamine levels, children with ADHD may be become hyperactive as a way of “self-medicating” with dopamine.

via Time moves too slowly for hyperactive boys – health – 10 June 2009 – New Scientist.