To gain a clearer understanding of “what makes us tick” as hunter-types, it’s important to look at what’s happening under the hood — namely, how our brain may be functioning differently than other people.

While the hunter-farmer theory is a good starting point for re-perceiving your ADD/ADHD challenges, understanding a bit about brain chemistry can provide you with more accuracy when implementing the specific strategies discussed later in the book.

With a deeper understanding of how your brain is functioning, you’ll feel far more in control of your life. For example, when you’re feeling lethargic and scattered, you’ll know you’re not just “being lazy,” there’s something happening — biochemically — that has led to your current mental/emotional state. You’ll then be able to take some decisive actions towards getting yourself going again.

The first step in our journey of exploring the “hunter-type brain” starts with getting a basic understanding of neurotransmitters.

Neurotransmitters are the brain’s circuitry — carrying all of our thoughts and emotions through vast neural networks. They are literally the “wires” that transmit electrical signals throughout the brain — storing memories, processing endless visual and auditory signals, and making up the very core of thought and perception.

There are two neurotransmitters that are primary in affecting mood, focus, and motivation: dopamine and serotonin. There are numerous others, but these are the two that seem to impact us hunter-types the most.