This article considers deficits in the selective aspects of perception underlying symptoms of impaired attention and impulsivity in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity syndrome (ADHD) in terms of frontal and temporal lobe function and cerebral asymmetry. Tomographic studies suggest a disturbed fronto-striatal function, but have neglected limbic contributions under activating conditions and are equivocal on the nature of apparent lateralized differences.

Neuropsychological and psychophysiological studies suggest that early and late stages of information processing are affected in both the frontal and temporal lobes and imply impaired intercortical dialog. Given the evidence for a normal specialization in global processing in the right and the processing of details in the left hemisphere, the lateralized impairment may progress from situational ADHD (impaired selective aspects of perception on the right) to pervasive ADHD (additional impairment in decision-making on the left).

Accordingly some ADHD children may experience an early negative neurodevelopmental influence that only appears as the brain region matures while others show a delayed development of CNS function.