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Effects of Auditory and Visual White Noise on Oculomotor Inhibition in Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity
Erica Jostrup1, Marcus Nyström2, Pia Tallberg1,3
1Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Insights
This study investigates how auditory and visual white noise affect eye movement control in children with ADHD and typically developing children. Results are expected to show how sensory stimulation can improve executive functions in ADHD.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterized by poor inhibitory control, with oculomotor inhibition impairments potentially serving as a biomarker.
- While auditory white noise benefits working memory in ADHD, visual white noise and its effects on oculomotor inhibition remain unexplored.
- Oculomotor inhibition deficits are a key feature of ADHD, impacting daily functioning and requiring further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the impact of auditory and visual white noise on oculomotor inhibition in children with ADHD and typically developing (TD) children.
- To investigate the effects of different white noise levels on performance in memory-guided saccades and prolonged fixations.
- To test the hypothesis that white noise improves performance in children with ADHD and impairs performance in TD children.
Main Methods:
- A crossover study design was employed to assess oculomotor inhibition.
- Memory-guided saccades and prolonged fixations were used as key performance indicators.
- Participants included children diagnosed with ADHD (off medication for 24 hours) and TD children without psychiatric disorders.
Main Results:
- Data collection occurred from October 2023 to February 2024, with 97 participants enrolled.
- Preliminary results are anticipated between September and November 2024.
- The study is designed to provide initial findings on the efficacy of white noise in modulating oculomotor control.
Conclusions:
- This research examines the potential of cross-modal sensory stimulation to enhance executive functions, specifically eye movement control, in children with ADHD.
- The study will explore differential effects of auditory versus visual white noise across both ADHD and TD groups.
- Findings aim to inform the use of noise-based interventions for cognitive performance improvement in ADHD.
Background:
In attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), poor inhibitory control is one of the main characteristics, with oculomotor inhibition impairments being considered a potential biomarker of the disorder. While auditory white noise has demonstrated the ability to enhance working memory in this group, visual white noise is still unexplored and so are the effects of both types of white noise stimulation on oculomotor inhibition.
Objective:
This crossover study aims to explore the impact of auditory and visual white noise on oculomotor inhibition in children with ADHD and typically developing (TD) children. The study will investigate the impact of different noise levels (25% and 50% visual, 78 dB auditory), and performance will be evaluated both with and without noise stimulation. We hypothesize that exposure to white noise will improve performance in children with ADHD and impair the performance for TD children.
Methods:
Memory-guided saccades and prolonged fixations, known for their sensitivity in detecting oculomotor disinhibition in ADHD, will be used to assess performance. Children diagnosed with ADHD, withdrawing from medication for 24 hours, and TD children without psychiatric disorders were recruited for the study.
Results:
Data collection was initiated in October 2023 and ended in February 2024. A total of 97 participants were enrolled, and the first results are expected between September and November 2024.
Conclusions:
This study will examine whether cross-modal sensory stimulation can enhance executive function, specifically eye movement control, in children with ADHD. In addition, the study will explore potential differences between auditory and visual noise effects in both groups. Our goal is to identify implications for understanding how noise can be used to improve cognitive performance.
Trial Registration:
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06057441; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06057441.
International Registered Report Identifier (Irrid):
DERR1-10.2196/56388.
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