Gamma waves play a role in schizophrenia, ADHD, memory, and consciousness. — Life pulses. Hearts pump. Air undulates in and out of the lungs. Circadian clocks measure out the best times for bodies to sleep, surging hormones, and crank body temperature and blood pressure up and down. The human brain, that two-pound blob of fats, proteins, and water, vibrates at a variety…

Or will using weed lead me off into the weeds? — Currently, 19 states, where almost half of all Americans reside, have legalized marijuana for any adult over age 21. An additional 21 states permit “medical” marijuana. More Americans are lighting up, and more are running into problems with marijuana. Simultaneously, we have seen an increase in claims that marijuana can…

But I’m heading to Hawaii nevertheless, FYI — Dear Elon, Please stop messing with my marriage. I’m not talking about how my techie husband and I differ in our assessment of you. He man-crushes on your cars and flamethrowers and spaceships to Mars. I, on the other hand, have a more nuanced view of your charms. I haven’t…

What you need to know about rate-limiting steps — Most often when we consider medications, we think about pharmacodynamics: the drug’s impact on our body, for good or bad, the benefits and side effects. We call the other side of the coin, how our bodies process, distribute, and regulate these substances, pharmacokinetics. …

Does examining different rates of ADHD diagnosis teach us anything? — In today’s politically fraught climate, why would anyone other than a provocateur venture into an examination of race and mental health? Discussing race in America, or actually, most places on this planet remains fraught with controversy. Some states have actually sought bans on teaching such controversial subjects in public schools.

Where OCD and ADHD Overlap — On the surface, ADHD and OCD appear to be opposites. The rigid, repetitive, compulsive, fearful actions of someone with OCD seem markedly different from the impulsive, thrill-seeking, externally distracted behavior of some people with ADHD. But in a number of instances, OCD behavior can be mistaken for ADHD. And the…

Remembering Bill “Buzz” Boomer — Earlier this year, one of my mentors died. Bill “Buzz” Boomer was coach of the swim team at the University of Rochester. He achieved worldwide fame in the swimming community for developing new techniques to swim faster. But like the best coaches, he was more concerned with drawing out and…

Driving while distracted — Dozens of studies confirm that those with ADHD are more likely to be involved in car accidents, including lethal ones. Any number of attributes of ADHD — impulsivity (“I need to get off at this exit now! So what if I’m in the left lane?”), poor sustained attention (“Highway driving…

Are our labels misleading? — We consider Ritalin (methylphenidate) and Adderall (amphetamine) first choice options for treating ADHD, with “non-stimulant” medications, behavioral training, biofeedback, and other treatments ranked as considerably less effective. But from a number of perspectives, including mode of action, efficacy, and serious adverse effects, methylphenidate looks more like a “non-stimulant” than a…