ADHD is linked to dysregulation of which neurotransmitters?

• A. GABA and glutamate.
• B. Acetylcholine and serotonin.
• C. Dopamine and norepinephrine.
• D. Endorphins and enkephalins.

Answer: (C)

ADHD is best understood as a disorder of dopaminergic and noradrenergic signaling in brain circuits that regulate attention and executive function. The frontostriatal pathways rely on dopamine and norepinephrine to modulate signal strength, reward, and sustained focus. When these systems are dysregulated, it helps explain why attention is inconsistent, impulsivity emerges, and activity levels fluctuate.

Medications that boost dopamine and norepinephrine—such as stimulants that block reuptake and promote release—tend to improve attention and reduce hyperactivity, directly supporting the role of these two transmitters in the condition. Non-stimulant approaches that increase noradrenergic activity also help, reinforcing the same mechanism.

Other neurotransmitters like GABA and glutamate are fundamental to general brain excitability and communication, and acetylcholine with serotonin are involved in various cognitive and mood processes, but they are not the primary players in ADHD’s pathophysiology. Endorphins and enkephalins are part of the endogenous opioid system and are not central to ADHD.