Why does attention research matter?

—4.4 million U.S. youths (aged 4-17) are estimated to have ADHD

—2.5 million youths are currently being medicated for ADHD symptoms

—Popular ADHD medications have been known to cause other psychiatric problems such as hallucinations, hearing voices, paranoia
and mania

—The neural causes and processes of ADHD are not yet known

—8 percent of Major League Baseball players have been diagnosed with ADHD

—Prescriptions for ADHD medications have increased dramatically in the U.S. over the past 10 years, with use more than quadrupling in many states