Essentials: ADHD & How Anyone Can Improve Their Focus

Huberman Lab

Scicomm Media

Science, Health & Fitness, Life Sciences

4.8 • 26.2K Ratings

🗓️ 31 July 2025

⏱️ 42 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In this Huberman Lab Essentials episode, I explore the biology and psychology of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and discuss both prescription and non-prescription treatment options. I discuss the neural circuits involved in attention and concentration, emphasizing dopamine's role in regulating and coordinating focus. I explain how common prescription stimulants like Ritalin, Adderall, and Modafinil act on the brain to treat ADHD, and discuss non-drug approaches, including supplements and behavioral training to support focus. The episode offers tools and insights beneficial not only for those with ADHD but for anyone seeking to improve attention and focus. Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman Eight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/huberman Joovv: https://joovv.com/huberman Timestamps 00:00:00 Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) 00:01:10 ADHD Challenges, Attention, Impulsivity, Hyperfocus, Time Perception, Working Memory 00:05:22 Sponsor: Eight Sleep 00:07:03 Dopamine & Focus; Default Mode Network & Task Network 00:11:57 ADHD & Low-Dopamine Hypothesis, Stimulants, Sugar 00:16:15 ADHD Prescriptions, Ritalin, Adderall, Stimulants 00:18:05 Sponsor: Joovv 00:19:18 Children, Learning to Focus & ADHD Prescriptions 00:22:26 Attentional Blinks, Tool: Improve Focus, Open-Monitoring, Panoramic Vision 00:26:28 Blinking, Dopamine & Time Perception, Tool: Visual Focus Training 00:30:39 Sponsor: AG1 00:32:16 Ritalin, Adderall, Modafinil, Side Effects, Tapering 00:34:05 Omega-3 Fatty Acids, EPA, DHA & Attention Effects; Phosphatidylserine 00:36:01 Modafinil, Armodafinil 00:36:51 Acetylcholine, Alpha-GPC 00:38:55 L-Tyrosine, Dopamine, Preexisting Conditions & Caution 00:39:51 Smartphones & Focus, Tool: Limiting Smartphone Use 00:41:56 Recap & Key Takeaways Disclaimer & Disclosures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Welcome to Huberman Lab Essentials, where we revisit past episodes for the most potent and actionable
0:05.8	science-based tools for mental health, physical health, and performance. I'm Andrew Huberman,
0:12.9	and I'm a professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine. Today we are
0:18.5	going to talk all about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD.
0:24.1	Now just a quick reminder that anytime we discuss
0:27.2	a psychiatric disorder, it's important that we remember
0:31.1	that all of us have the temptation to self-diagnose
0:34.1	or to diagnose others.
0:36.0	The clear and real diagnosis of ADHD
0:40.1	really should be carried out by a psychiatrist,
0:43.2	a physician, or a very well-trained clinical psychologist.
0:47.9	So right now, the current estimates are that about one in 10 children
0:52.5	and probably more have ADHD.
0:55.8	Now fortunately about half of those will resolve with proper treatment,
1:00.7	but the other half typically don't.
1:03.0	The other thing that we are seeing a lot nowadays
1:05.7	is increased levels of ADHD in adults.
1:10.1	For sake of today's discussion,
1:12.4	attention, focus, and concentration
1:14.5	are essentially the same thing.
1:16.2	So people with ADHD have trouble holding their attention.
1:21.7	What is attention?
	...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in 11 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Scicomm Media, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Scicomm Media and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.