• Question: how do you use a mouse to find out more about ADHD?

    Asked by leahann to Simon on 10 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Simon Trent

      Simon Trent answered on 10 Jun 2011:

      Thanks for the question! We are using a mouse that is created so that it is missing just one gene. This gene codes for an enzyme called steroid sulfatase which is involved in quite a few important reactions in the brain. We have some strong evidence that this enzyme is really important in ADHD based on mouse work. We have special tests that we put the animal through which measures behaviour like attention, how impulsive they are and hyper-activity.

      In general, it is always tricky trying to measure something in a mouse which is actually a human disorder (mice dont naturally have ADHD!), so there are limits to these kind of tests. Hope this answers your question!

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