Attention, Impulsivity and Regulation (AIR) Program | UC Davis MIND Institute

Attention, Impulsivity and Regulation/ADHD

The AIR Program seeks to improve the lives of children, adolescents, and adults experiencing challenges with attention, impulsivity, executive functioning, and emotional regulation, including those with ADHD. Our research explores how brain development and environmental factors shape attention and behavior and develops innovative non-medication approaches to improve daily functioning and quality of life. The program is led by Julie Schweitzer, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and Catrina Calub, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.

AIR Program Mission

We aim to improve the lives of children, teens and adults experiencing challenges with attention, impulsivity, or cognitive and emotional regulation. This includes helping persons with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), executive functioning and problems with self-regulation. ADHD is the most common childhood behavioral condition associated with problems with attention, impulsivity and regulation, however these challenges can occur in other conditions such as autism.

Our program is leading the way by conducting research in several areas:

• Computer app for increasing self-control in young children
• Computerized cognitive training for autistic children
• Developing and testing non-pharmacological treatments for distractibility and impulsivity
• Exploring the presence of ADHD symptoms in children with autism
• Identifying the link between ADHD and substance use
• Investigation of locus coeruleus function in sustained attention
• Machine learning analyses applied to imaging data
• Studying how the brain changes with the development of self-control
• Testing links between “fidgeting” and attention
• Understanding brain functioning and development in ADHD, typically developing teens and young adults
• Using a randomized control trial to test how to educate the public about ADHD
• Virtual reality treatment for improving attention