Improving Impulsive Behaviors in Kids with ADHD
Impulsive behavior in children is a growing concern for many parents. With ADHD diagnoses on the rise—now affecting approximately 1 in 10 children—families are searching for effective solutions. What many may not realize is that impulsivity can improve through targeted developmental strategies.
In my practice, I work with children with ADHD daily. One of the most impactful interventions we use involves improving cerebellar function—and the results are often dramatic.
A 2019 study published in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience (Miquel et al.) explores how cerebellar dysfunction is linked to impulsivity, compulsivity, and disorders like ADHD, Autism, OCD, Anxiety, and Addiction. This aligns perfectly with what I see clinically: when we improve a child’s movement and coordination, their ability to regulate impulses also improves.
The Cerebellum’s Role in Executive Function and Behavior
The study highlights how cerebellar dysfunction is consistently found in individuals with ADHD, Autism, OCD, addiction, and motor impairments. One key area of focus is the posterior vermis of the cerebellum, which plays a vital role in executive function—the brain’s ability to plan, focus, and control impulses.
The vermis helps with core stability, balance, and eye tracking—skills that are essential for learning and behavior.
When this area is underdeveloped, learning delays, motor difficulties, and behavioral challenges often follow.
The study also points out that the cerebellum helps regulate the prefrontal cortex, the brain’s command center for decision-making, movement initiation, and impulse control.
If the cerebellum isn’t functioning properly, it fails to regulate the prefrontal cortex, leading to executive function deficits—which are a hallmark of ADHD.
Why Movement is Key for Brain Development
The cerebellum is incredibly important—it contains more neurons than the rest of the brain combined! Its primary function is to coordinate and smooth out movements, thoughts, and behaviors.
The study further explains that the cerebellum enables prediction, organization, and comprehension of complex sequences—skills that are crucial for self-regulation and impulse control.
One of the most compelling statements in the paper states:
“It is proposed that the majority of mental disorders result from dysregulation of normal central nervous system development.”
I completely agree. In practice, nearly every child I see with developmental delays, impulsive behaviors, or focus issues shows signs of an underdeveloped nervous system.
Primitive Reflexes and Delayed Brain Development
Many children with ADHD retain primitive reflexes—neurological responses that should disappear within the first year of life. However, I frequently see 6- and 7-year-olds still displaying these reflexes, indicating a delay in brain and nervous system maturation.
The study also highlights how preterm birth and early-life injuries can disrupt cerebellar development. I often find that children who were born prematurely or exposed to prenatal drug use exhibit greater developmental delays and impulsivity.
Additionally, early neglect and lack of movement (such as skipping tummy time, crawling, or creeping) can impair cerebellar growth. These motor milestones are essential for proper brain development, and missing them often correlates with behavioral and learning difficulties later in life.
ADHD, the Cerebellum, and Impulsivity
The study provides compelling evidence that children with ADHD have:
Decreased cerebellar volume
Reduced connectivity with the prefrontal cortex
Increased impulsivity, especially in preterm children
One particularly fascinating finding is that cerebellar dysfunction leads to an over-reliance on “GO” mechanisms and a decreased ability to engage “NO-GO” mechanisms—in other words, kids with ADHD struggle to stop and think before acting.
This imbalance mirrors a fight-or-flight (sympathetic) dominance rather than a calm, regulated (parasympathetic) state. When a child operates in this hyperactive mode, they are constantly on edge, anxious, and reactive—making learning and self-regulation incredibly difficult.
How to Improve Cerebellar Function and Reduce Impulsivity
The study concludes that activating and strengthening the cerebellum can reduce both impulsive and compulsive behaviors. This is exactly what I observe in my clinic:
Targeted movement exercises improve coordination and balance.
Chiropractic adjustments help optimize brain-body communication.
Nutritional changes support brain function and reduce inflammation.
As cerebellar function improves, higher brain centers (like the prefrontal cortex) become better regulated—allowing children to control impulses more effectively.
Has any other healthcare provider noticed this pattern in their patients? Let’s continue the conversation!
Final Thoughts
ADHD and impulsivity are not just behavioral issues—they are often neurological in nature. Research continues to show that cerebellar function is a key player in self-regulation and executive function.
By addressing movement development, primitive reflexes, and brain connectivity, we can help children improve impulse control naturally. This approach has transformed the lives of many children in my practice—and it could for yours too.
Miquel, M., Nicola, S. M., Gil-Miravet, I., Guarque-Chabrera, J., & Sanchez-Hernandez, A. (2019). A Working Hypothesis for the Role of the Cerebellum in Impulsivity and Compulsivity. Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience, 13, 99. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00099