Joel Nigg

Director, Division of Psychology
Oregon Health and Science University

Dr. Nigg’s research focuses on the underlying mechanisms and causes in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) across the lifespan. The primary focus is on cognitive and neuropsychological mechanisms. However, studies of genetics, family dynamics, personality and temperament, environmental toxins, and neuroimaging of ADHD are also ongoing.

From this contributor

Spectrum from The Transmitter.
Spectrum

Insights for autism from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

By Joel Nigg
7 February 2012 | 8 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

Research image of mice microglia.
Spectrum

Single-gene systems-level effects, and more

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 6 April.

By Jill Adams
7 April 2026 | 2 min read
Book cover of The Brain, In Theory by Romain Brette.
Theoretical neuroscience

‘The Brain, In Theory,’ an excerpt

In his new book, Brette pushes back against theories that describe the brain as a “biological computer.” In this excerpt from Chapter 4, he challenges equating brain evolution with programming, and the universality of neural network models.

By Romain Brette
7 April 2026 | 5 min read
Kieth Hengen looks through a small window, aligning his face with a fancy moustache sticker and rolling his eyes comically to the side.
Computational neuroscience

Computational neuroscientist Keith Hengen explains his work through illustrations

The images help him communicate the “big-picture ideas” behind the mathematical principles of neuronal networks.

By Helena Kudiabor
7 April 2026 | 3 min read