Uninhibited Imaginations: Creativity and Hyperfocus in ADHD

Mon, 04/09/2018 - 3:38pm

When: March 26, 2018 at the Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

ADHD is a common neuropsychological disorder marked by inattentiveness, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.  ADHD may contribute to functional impairment in academic, vocational, and social situations. At the same time, the attentional dysregulation associated with ADHD may have some positive consequences. 

In this talk, Dr. Shah presents data suggesting that one of these benefits may be exceptional creativity.  Specifically, individuals with ADHD  exhibit enhanced "divergent" thinking, and this thinking style is associated with greater creative achievement in some domains.  She also discusses data suggesting that individuals with ADHD, when motivated, may actually show periods of intense focus (often dubbed hyperfocus); this intense focus can have benefits (e.g., for the creative process) and costs (e.g., procrastination), and she briefly describes ongoing research on attention interventions for ADHD children. Finally, Dr. Shah speculates on clinical and academic implications of this research. 

Dr. Priti Shah is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Michigan in cognition and cognitive neuroscience and educational psychology. She completed her Ph.D. at Carnegie Mellon University and her undergraduate degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  She studies how students learn and limitations in student learning. Current projects include studies of improving scientific reasoning in middle school children, correcting false beliefs about science, the impact of math anxiety on math learning, and improving attention and motivation in children with ADHD.  Dr. Shah has edited three books and published over 60 articles and book chapters. She has received funding from numerous federal agencies and foundations such as the Institute for Educational Sciences, the National Institute of Aging, the National Science Foundation, and the Spencer Foundation. She is an avid reader and the mother of two children, one in college and one in the Ann Arbor Public Schools.

This program is part of the "Exploring the Mind" series and is a partnership with The University of Michigan Department of Psychology.