Prefrontal Cortex and ADHD

Main Chapters:
00:00 Intro - Prefrontal Cortex and ADHD
00:17 Take home message
04:05 What is the Prefrontal Cortex
11:24 Vulnerabilities of the Prefrontal Cortex
15:17 Prefrontal Cortex and Stress
21:46 Conclusion
25:36 Outro

Although other brain areas play a role in ADHD, the prefrontal cortex, where executive functions of the brain are located, plays a primary role. Researchers have identified prefrontal circuits involved with working memory, selective attention, emotional regulation, and other executive functions.

However, it actual human life, there is a great deal of interconnectivity between these executive functions. The prefrontal cortex is susceptible to fatigue, unlike much of the rest of the brain. It is also one area of the brain that becomes relatively silenced and less functional at times of high stress, in part because of its dependence on NMDA glutamate receptor systems.

Part of this is why conditions like anxiety and depression can mimic aspects of ADHD, and also why the stresses of modern life may be pushing all of our brains in more ADHD-like directions.

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Free link to my Medium Article on the Prefrontal Cortex:
https://medium.com/wise-well/a-users-...

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References:
Guanfacine’s mechanism of action in treating prefrontal cortical disorders: Successful translation across species (2020)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science...

On the role of the prefrontal cortex in fatigue effects on cognitive flexibility - a system neurophysiological approach
https://www.nature.com/articles/s4159...

Frontal Fatigue (2021, Rego)
https://www.amazon.com/Frontal-Fatigu...

Full chapter list:
00:00 Intro - Prefrontal Cortex and ADHD
00:17 Take home message
04:05 What is the Prefrontal Cortex
05:18 Prefrontal Cortex and Mental Health
06:18 Dorsalateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC)
09:04 Ventralmedial Prefrontal Cortex (vmPFC)
10:33 Prefrontal Cortex and Executive Functions
11:24 Vulnerabilities of the Prefrontal Cortex
11:37 Genetic and Anatomic Vulnerabilities
13:08 Neurochemical Vulnerabilities and Fatigue
15:17 Prefrontal Cortex and Stress
18:32 The Amygdala and Stress
19:56 ''Frontal Fatigue'' book by Mark Rego
21:46 Conclusion
25:36 Outro

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Psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and author John Kruse, MD, PhD presents practical, actionable, well-researched information about treatment options that scientists and clinicians recommend for adult ADHD and other mental health conditions. Subscribe if you're curious about how neuro-atypical brains can optimize their functioning in our shared, and somewhat strange, world.

Dr. Kruse has posted talks in both the "live" and the "video" sections of this channel. Thumbnails on ADHD topics have a pink background, and those on more general mental health topics have a purple background. A small collection of ADHD-Trump videos have an orange background.

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