The ADHD Circuit: How ADHD Works

The ADHD Circuit Video Transcription

ADHD is the term we use when the Front Brain has a LOW power supply of brain chemicals.

The Front Brain is the organizing center of the brain. It orchestrates everything…from your five senses and emotions to the thoughts you generate in response to them.

For example, imagine this string of lights represents the neuron wire connections in your brain. The first bulb would be your Front Brain.

It receives information, determines what to do with it, and then sends directions to the rest of your brain.

What happens if this circuit is cut?

The power goes out!

In an ADHD brain, these power outages happen regularly because there is a shortage of brain chemicals in the Front Brain.

When brain chemicals are low, the Front Brain sends weak signals to the rest of the brain. Sometimes the signals connect; sometimes, they don’t.

Many signals never reach their destination and… the power goes out.

An inconsistent power supply means that people with ADHD will do things inconsistently. Sometimes their signals will connect. Sometimes they won’t.

In ADHD, the amount of brain power is impossible to predict. This creates a lot of frustration… for the person with ADHD… and the parents, teachers, spouses, bosses, and friends that depend on them.

However, ADHD brains do best with fewer connections, putting less strain on the Front Brain.

Let’s look at an example in school.

If you re in class and your teacher passes out homework, to put it away, you will:

• Grab the paper.
• Set the paper down.
• Reach down.
• Open bookbag.
• Move books.
• Flip through folders.
• Find the right folder.
• Grab the folder.
• Pull it out.
• Set it on the desk.
• Open the folder.
• Slide the paper in.
• Close the folder.
• Pick the folder up.
• Reach down.
• Grab the bookbag.
• Open the bookbag.
• Move books out of the way.
• Hold other folder back.
• Slide the folder in.
• Set the bag down.
• Return to an upright position.

For a total of 22 commands, or connections, on the brain circuit.

What if this same process could be reduced to 5 steps?

This is what it would look like:

• you grab the paper,
• Open the binder,
• Flip to the right folder,
• Slide paper in the folder,
• And close the binder.

This process is 440% more efficient.

The SOAR^® Learning & Soft Skills System for organizing papers, was developed precisely to accomplish this efficiency.

ADHD brains do best with fewer steps. This is the ADHD Circuit.

We will be featuring the more brain biology videos in the weeks to come. To watch the whole series now, click here.

To our students’ success,

Susan Kruger, M.Ed.
Creator of SOAR