The ADHD Skills Lab Research Recap with William Curb: ADHD and the Default Mode Network
Aug 15, 2025
William Curb, co-host of the Research Recaps series from Hacking Your ADHD, dives into the intriguing world of the default mode network and its peculiar relationship with ADHD. He discusses how this brain region doesn’t always shut down in ADHD individuals, affecting focus. The conversation also covers the benefits of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in altering brain connectivity and highlights the genetic factors influencing attention. Plus, there's a look at how untreated ADHD can complicate life and work, emphasizing the need for effective treatment.
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Default Mode Network And ADHD
- The default mode network (DMN) activates during rest, daydreaming, and self-reflection.
- In ADHD the DMN often fails to deactivate when engaging tasks, causing internal thoughts to intrude on focus.
When Resting Brain Stays On
- ADHD brains can keep DMN regions active while performing tasks, creating simultaneous daydreaming and task performance.
- That overlap helps explain zoning out and inattentive symptoms common in ADHD.
Consider CBT For ADHD Interference
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) was chosen as the intervention to test DMN-related changes.
- Try CBT as a structured, evidence-based approach to reduce ADHD-related interference for some adults.