Podcast Summary:

TED Talks Daily
Episode: Interview: What happens in your brain when you pay attention? with Dr. Sasha Hamdani | from TED Health
Date: January 3, 2026
Host: Dr. Shoshana Ungerleiter (TED Health)
Guest: Dr. Sasha Hamdani, Psychiatrist and ADHD Specialist
Special Talk by: Mehdi Ordikani Sayadlar, Computational Neuroscientist

Main Theme and Purpose

This episode explores the science of attention—how the brain filters and focuses information—and applies these insights to understanding and supporting people with ADHD. The episode features a brief TED talk by neuroscientist Mehdi Ordikani Sayadlar about the mechanics of brain attention, followed by an in-depth interview with Dr. Sasha Hamdani. Dr. Hamdani provides clinical, scientific, and personal insight into ADHD, breaking down myths, discussing diagnosis and treatment, and emphasizing neurodiversity's strengths and challenges.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. What Is Attention? (Talk by Mehdi Ordikani Sayadlar)

• Distinguishing Overt and Covert Attention (05:48)
  • Overt: Moving your eyes toward what you want to focus on.
  • Covert: Focusing mentally without moving your eyes (e.g., focusing on surroundings while driving).
• Brain Patterns & Filtering (06:39)
  • The frontal part of the brain acts as a filter—letting in relevant information and inhibiting distractions.
• ADHD and Filtering Deficits (08:07)
  • “A person with ADHD cannot inhibit these distractors, and that's why they can't focus for a long time on a single task.”
• Brain-Computer Interfaces: Therapeutic Potential (09:09)
  • Future: Possible to train attention via brain-machine interfaces, with applications not just for ADHD, but for post-stroke patients (e.g., enabling communication without speech).
• Optimism for Technological Advances (10:37)
  • “Could a computer one day communicate for people who can't speak? ...We will be there soon.”

“The filtering ability of the brain is indeed a key for attention, which is missing in some people, for example, in people with ADHDs.”
— Mehdi Ordikani Sayadlar (08:00)

2. ADHD: Beyond the Stereotypes (Dr. Sasha Hamdani Interview)

ADHD's Complex Presentation

• ADHD Misconceptions (14:55)
  • Not everyone with ADHD is hyperactive.
  • The key issue is with regulation—of attention, emotions, and energy.
• ADHD “Types” (22:06)
  • Inattentive (often in girls/women): Trouble starting tasks, disorganization, daydreaming.
  • Hyperactive: More physical/verbal impulsivity (easier to spot, often diagnosed in boys).
  • Combined type: A mix of symptoms.

“ADHD is… really at its base, an attention regulation issue. And it's kind of an everything regulation issue. It's also an emotional regulation issue. It's an energy regulation issue.”
— Dr. Sasha Hamdani (14:55)

Differentiating ADHD from Ordinary Distraction

• Disorder vs. Trait (16:00)
  • True ADHD affects multiple life areas—home, work, relationships—and causes significant dysfunction.

Hidden Strengths of the ADHD Brain

• Big Picture Thinking & Creativity (17:45)
  • ADHD can bring unique advantages: pattern recognition, creativity, out-of-the-box problem-solving, and hyperfocus (though difficult to control when this happens).
• Superpower? It's Complicated (18:53):
  • Dr. Hamdani rejects the term “superpower”—many struggle to access these strengths on demand.

“ADHD is like having that ability [a superpower], but you can't choose when you tap into it.”
— Dr. Sasha Hamdani (18:53)

Diagnosis Trends: Why the Surge?

• Recognition & Stigma (20:10)
  • Increased conversation and less stigma; adults recognize in themselves what was missed in childhood.
  • Both overdiagnosis and underdiagnosis exist (depends on the population).
• Gender and Cultural Disparities (20:57, 22:03)
  • Girls/women often overlooked—tend to be daydreamers, not disruptive.
  • Disparities by race, class, and cultural background lead to misdiagnoses.

“In some groups, [ADHD is] extremely, extremely underdiagnosed. And instead you're getting other diagnoses like oppositional defiant disorder... anxiety, depression, personality disorder, when really it's ADHD.”
— Dr. Sasha Hamdani (21:14)

Signs in Kids – and the Role of Parents

• Clues to Watch For (23:43)
  • Persistent distractibility and inability to complete tasks; concerns raised at school (comparisons with peers) are a good indicator.

The Experience of Late Diagnosis

• Grief and Acceptance (27:27)
  • Adults may feel sadness about “lost time” but can use new diagnosis as an opportunity for growth.

“It's okay to feel like maybe there was time lost... during that time, you were probably doing the best you could and building skill sets.”
— Dr. Sasha Hamdani (28:25)

3. Rethinking ADHD Treatment

Beyond Medication

• Behavioral Tools and Self-Understanding (29:40)
  • Medication isn’t the only (or best) option; behavioral modification, coaching, tracking, and individualized tools (e.g., apps like Focus Genie) can help.
  • Understanding personal patterns—figuring out what motivates and supports you—is crucial.

“There are... incredibly powerful tools for behavioral modification that you could do. And I think that is so incredibly vital to talk about because access to care is such a nightmare.”
— Dr. Sasha Hamdani (29:47)

Community and Support Systems

• Importance of Environment (34:42)
  • Community emotional support and positive environments (teachers, workplaces, families) can transform experience for those with ADHD.
  • Stigmatizing or blaming language has profound negative effects; supportive, solution-focused approaches make a difference.

“When I shifted into this other environment, [people said] this isn't your fault. Let's figure out together how to solve it. And it changed my entire... relationship with myself.”
— Dr. Sasha Hamdani (35:14)

Self-Diagnosis and Accessibility

• Self-Exploration as Validation (38:55)
  • Self-diagnosis, if used to foster self-understanding and dialogue, is powerful and valid, especially when professional diagnosis is inaccessible. But caution: don’t self-prescribe medication.

“I feel like there is a lot of validity in self-diagnosis... for people to look into their own symptomology and find something that resonates with them and actually explore it... it's so validating.”
— Dr. Sasha Hamdani (39:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On ADHD’s Name:
  “Part of where that issue derives from is that the name for ADHD is so stupid...”
  — Dr. Sasha Hamdani (14:47)

• On Late Diagnosis:
  “It’s okay to feel like maybe there was time lost... but you were probably doing the best you could and building skill sets...”
  — Dr. Sasha Hamdani (28:25)

• On Filtering Ability:
  “The filtering ability of the brain is indeed a key for attention, which is missing in some people, for example, in people with ADHDs.”
  — Mehdi Ordikani Sayadlar (08:00)

• On Supportive Environments:
  “When I shifted into this other environment, [people said]...this isn't your fault. Let's figure out together how to solve it. And it changed my entire number one relationship with myself.”
  — Dr. Sasha Hamdani (35:10)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Introduction & Context: 01:39–03:13
• TED Talk – Science of Attention: 05:26–11:18
• Introducing Dr. Sasha Hamdani: 13:36–14:47
• ADHD Stereotypes & Symptoms: 14:47–15:43
• ADHD vs. Ordinary Distraction: 15:43–16:58
• ADHD Hidden Strengths & Hyperfocus: 16:58–18:53
• Diagnoses Surge – Cultural & Societal Factors: 19:45–21:41
• ADHD in Women: 22:03–23:20
• Detecting ADHD in Children: 23:43–25:26
• Personal Experience’s Role in Clinical Work: 25:43–26:05
• DSM’s Limitations: 26:05–27:27
• Grief in Late Diagnosis: 27:27–28:59
• Treatment Options – Behavioral Focus: 29:22–34:05
• Community Influence: 34:05–36:09
• If You Suspect ADHD – Next Steps: 38:38–40:44

Summary: Takeaways for the Listener

• Attention is both about focusing and filtering distractions. Problems with this filter—especially in ADHD—can derail life, but science is offering new therapeutic avenues.
• ADHD is a spectrum disorder involving the regulation of attention, emotions, and energy, not just “hyperactivity.”
• Strengths like creativity, intuition, and hyperfocus often come with ADHD, but are rarely predictable.
• Social context and stigma play a huge role in diagnosis, support, and outcomes—especially for women and minorities.
• Treatment is multidimensional: medication helps many, but behavioral strategies, self-awareness, and community support are also essential.
• Community and self-compassion fundamentally change the ADHD experience; seeking or providing empathy and understanding is powerful.
• Self-exploration is valid: Even without access to a medical diagnosis, research and reflection help; but be cautious about self-medication.
• For parents: Persistent, disruptive distractibility in kids warrants attention—especially if raised by teachers.

This episode provides science, personal narrative, and practical advice, blending empathy and expertise to help listeners understand attention, neurodiversity, and the evolving landscape of ADHD care.