Study Looks at ADHD Kids' Impulse Control

Researchers are examining the brain's reactions in an effort to help ADHD children control impulsive behavior.

New studies funded by Michigan State University are helping researchers and doctors better understand brain activity in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Brain activity can explain why some children can’t moderate their behavior. Understanding what parts of the brain control impulses can lead to effective solutions in helping children overcome their challenges, says study author Margaret Semrud-Clikeman, Ph.D., a professor in the MSU Department of Psychiatry.

Since 2008, children ages 9 to 17 with both attention-deficit problems and normal development have come in for MRIs at the MSU Department of Radiology. To make the process less daunting and more fun for the children, the study also incorporates an interactive video game that records impulse control and activity while they play.

Read more about the research.