RESEARCH STUDIES
Below are our current studies. If you are interested in learning more about participating, please visit our participation page to see what studies we are currently seeking participants for.
"Crumpled Frustration" by Aaron Jacobs is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
Individuals with ADHD can find it hard to manage strong emotions. In fact, emotion dysregulation is reported by 30-70% of adults with elevated inattention and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity. Prior studies have tended to define emotional dysregulation according to an individual’s emotional or behavioral response, such as irritability, argumentativeness, emotional over-reactivity, and low frustration tolerance. Less known is about the emotion regulation processes used by individuals with elevated inattention and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity. Our lab is investigating this topic among college students using a variety of different methods, including self-report, interviews, and physiological measures (e.g., heart rate).
Why Are Children and Adults With ADHD At Greater Risk Of Obesity?
Researchers have tended to investigate the cognitive, academic and social difficulties faced by individuals with ADHD, while their physical health has been less well studied. Recent evidence suggests, however, that children and adults with ADHD are at greater risk of excessive weight gain, which places them at risk for myriad health problems. We study common neural and neuropsychological risk factors for both ADHD and obesity, with a view to informing intervention design.
How Does Physical Exercise Impact Cognitive Functioning?
There is a robust literature, primarily in animals and in aging human populations, showing that physical exercise positively impacts brain structure and cognitive performance. Less is known, however, about the impact of physical exercise on the cognitive functioning of young adults and children; this is particularly the case for individuals with ADHD. We are investigating the acute effects of moderate intensity exercise on young adults' working memory and different aspects of attention. Furthermore, we are also interested in better understanding the factors that may moderate the relation between exercise and cognitive functioning, such as body mass index, fitness level, ADHD symptom severity, and severity of internalizing problems.