The ADHD knowledge graph
A curated map of how ADHD concepts connect. Here is how to read it.
BrightMind maintains a curated ADHD knowledge graph: hundreds of concepts (the clinical picture, the biology, medications, coping techniques, myths, and more) and the relationships between them. The interactive explorer lets you search it, filter it, and click any concept to see how it connects to everything else.
How to read it
- Each dot is a concept: a disorder, a symptom, a medication, a technique, and so on. Bigger dots are more connected, so the largest dot is ADHD itself.
- Each line is a relationship: "treats", "addresses", "is a symptom of", "has genetic association", and the like. Click a node to see its connections spelled out in plain language in the side panel.
- Color is the category, the kind of concept. The legend (and the table below) maps each color to what it means.
The legend: concept types
In the explorer, the colored dots at the bottom-left are the legend. Each dot is a toggle: click a dot to hide or show that category, or click its label to focus on just that type and list every concept in it.
- Clinical
- The core diagnostic picture: ADHD itself, its presentations, symptoms, and closely related conditions.
- Medication
- Stimulant and non-stimulant medications, the drug classes they belong to, and their molecular targets.
- Biology
- The underlying biology: genes, brain regions, and the neurochemistry involved in ADHD.
- Mechanisms
- How treatments and traits actually work, the mechanisms of action behind their effects.
- Techniques
- Practical, evidence-informed techniques and coping strategies for managing ADHD day to day.
- Life & triggers
- Everyday life domains and the situations or triggers that make symptoms better or worse.
- Strengths
- Strengths and positive traits commonly associated with the ADHD profile.
- Accommodations
- Workplace, school, and environmental accommodations that reduce friction.
- Assessments
- Screening questionnaires and diagnostic instruments used to assess ADHD.
- Myths
- Common myths and misconceptions about ADHD, explicitly flagged as such.
- Apps & tools
- Apps and tools people use to stay on top of things, including the task managers BrightMind connects to.
- Books & media
- Books, podcasts, and other media about ADHD.
- Research
- The research literature: scholarly articles and the topics they study.
- People
- Researchers, clinicians, and notable figures connected to ADHD knowledge.
- Organizations
- Organizations, communities, and institutions in the ADHD space.
- Sources
- Provenance and source metadata: where the data in the graph comes from.
How strong is a connection?
Not every relationship is equally certain. When you select a concept, its connections are grouped by type and tagged with an evidence rating, so a well-established link reads differently from a community observation or a debunked myth.
- Strong
- Backed by strong, well-replicated evidence (e.g. guidelines, meta-analyses).
- Moderate
- Reasonable supporting evidence, but less settled than strong.
- Emerging
- Early or preliminary evidence; promising but not yet established.
- Limited
- Thin or mixed evidence; treat with caution.
- Community
- Reported by the ADHD community and lived experience rather than formal studies.
- Myth
- A claim that is popular but contradicted by the evidence.
Connections with no rating are shown faintly and left unlabeled. Generic links ("mentions", "related to", citations) are hidden by default to keep the map legible; use the Show weak links toggle in the explorer to reveal them.
Ready to dig in? Open the explorer.