Eye Movement Performance on the Stroop Test in Adults With ADHD

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention and hyperactivity.
• The Stroop test is a common neuropsychological test used to assess selective attention and cognitive control.
• Understanding eye movement patterns can provide insights into the cognitive processes underlying ADHD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the eye movement patterns of adults with ADHD and neurotypical controls during the Stroop test.
• To investigate differences in visual attention allocation between the two groups, particularly under conditions of cognitive conflict.

Main Methods:

• Thirty adults diagnosed with ADHD (ages 18-31) and 30 age-matched neurotypical controls participated.
• Participants completed the Stroop test while their eye movements were recorded.
• Analysis focused on fixation duration, number of fixations, and transitions between stimuli.

Main Results:

• Individuals with ADHD demonstrated a more pronounced Stroop effect compared to controls.
• Eye-tracking data revealed that the ADHD group spent more time fixating on the target stimuli than on distractors.
• Significant differences were observed in total fixation time and the number of fixations on the target, with the ADHD group exhibiting more transitions between target and distractor stimuli.

Conclusions:

• The findings suggest that adults with ADHD employ less efficient visual search strategies when attempting to ignore distracting information.
• These results indicate potential difficulties in attentional control and inhibitory processes in individuals with ADHD during demanding cognitive tasks.