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Oades,
R. D., The role of serotonin in attention-deficit hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD). Background - the disorder: The symptoms of childhood attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) cover the domains of cognition, impulsivity and motor control, and often embody motivational/emotional features. Prevalence of the combined-type disorder may decrease with age, but the former features predominate increasingly through adolescence to adulthood. Background - the neurotransmitter:
The widespread innervation through the CNS by
fibers containing serotonin (5-HT) means
that, as cause or effect, it is likely Lines of evidence: 2 - Extra-neuronal availability is under the control of enzymes responsible for 5-HT synthesis, and its removal depends on breakdown or reuptake. Alleles are expressed in cases with ADHD that disturb this availability; they can be over- or under-expressed, depending on phenotype (e.g., impulsivity). 3 - The effect of altered levels of 5-HT is mediated by the expression of pre- and postsynaptic receptors of the 5-HT 1 and 5-HT 2 families.. 4 - Neuropsychological and neurophysiological
studies show that the processes affected range from perception, through
attention to motivationally guided learning 5 - While the function of a range of brain regions may be involved, the thalamus and frontal lobes are taken as potentially influential examples. . Discussion: Study in this field is in its infancy, and many putative interactions (e.g., between genes, gene/environment, co-morbid problems, development and motor function) require closer investigation. . .
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