UM Psychology Community Talk with Dr. Priti Shah

Uninhibited Imaginations: Creativity and Hyperfocus in ADHD

ADHD is a common neuropsychologyical 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 disregulation associated with ADHD may have some positive consequences. In this talk, I will present 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. I will also discuss 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). I will also briefly describe ongoing research on attention interventions for ADHD children. Finally, I will speculate on clinical and academic implications of this research.

Priti Shah is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Michigan in cognition and cognitive neuroscience and educational psychology. She completed her PhD 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.