ADHD is thought to occur because the top-down control of behavior from the brain’s frontal cortex isn’t sufficient to control the bottom-up drives and impulses. This failure of control may be because the dopamine and noradrenaline systems in the frontal cortex haven’t developed adequately. That’s why the most effective treatments for ADHD are medicines that enhance dopamine function (e.g., amphetamines or Ritalin [methylphenidate]) or those that increase noradrenaline activity (e.g., Strattera [atomoxetine]).
