The Reticular Activating System (RAS) is one of the brain’s most powerful filters. When understood correctly, parents and teachers can use it to guide attention, motivation, and emotional regulation—especially for individuals with ADHD.
What Is the RAS?
The RAS acts like a gatekeeper in the brain, deciding what information gets attention. It filters thousands of stimuli every second and chooses what matters most.
For ADHDers, this filter doesn’t always prioritize correctly, causing distractibility.
How the RAS Technique Helps ADHD
By intentionally directing attention toward positive, important, or calming cues, we teach the brain what to notice more often.
Three Simple Ways to Activate the RAS
1. Positive Framing Instead of Negative Commands
Instead of: “Stop shouting.”
Say: “Use your calm voice.”
The RAS focuses on what it hears last.
2. Visualization Tools
Vision boards, goal cards, or visual schedules help the brain lock onto what is expected.
3. Repetition and Predictability
The more consistent the cue, the more the RAS prioritizes it.
RAS for Parents & Teachers
Use this technique to guide behavior:
- Reinforce desired actions verbally
- Create routines that repeat daily
- Use visual anchors in classrooms and homes
Conclusion
The RAS technique is simple yet transformative. With practice, it trains the ADHD brain to focus on what truly matters and improves self-regulation over time.
