ADHD may have helped early humans to forage effectively.

A recent study suggests that ADHD may have evolved in hunter-gatherer societies because it was advantageous for foragers. Traits commonly associated with ADHD, such as impulsivity, may have encouraged foragers to move on from areas with depleting resources sooner than those without the condition. Researchers conducted an online foraging game with participants who had ADHD symptoms and those without, and found that those with ADHD symptoms spent less time hovering over bushes, resulting in them collecting more berries. The study suggests that the selective pressures facing early hunter-gatherer communities may have driven the evolution of ADHD. However, some critics argue that the abundance of berries in the game does not accurately reflect the scarcity of resources experienced by early hunter-gatherers. [Extracted from the article]