The Prefrontal Cortex and the Rising Cases of ADHD

  Neur300 Blog Post 1 – Yasmin Nasim                 Martha Ann Bell and her research team have conducted a study that looked at the development of the prefrontal cortex in young children. The prefrontal cortex is a region of the brain that controls impulses, which is known as inhibitory control. This research team measured brain activity through the use of an EEG in the alpha range in children ages 10 months – 4 years old. Essentially, they have found that increasing frontal alpha power was connected to better inhibitory control by the age of 4. With a better inhibitory control, the same 4 year olds, now at age 6, scored higher in reading and math. The study concluded that maturation of the prefrontal cortex leads to higher inhibitory control, which in turn leads to higher success in academics.                 Additionally, Dan B...