Perceptual learning in ADHD

Perceptual learning, particularly with texture discrimination training (TDT), offers a valuable framework for investigating sensory and cognitive plasticity in clinical populations. In this study, we examined the effects of TDT in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), with and without pharmacological medication treatment. Participants performed a dual-task paradigm involving central fixation identification and peripheral texture orientation discrimination, across four training sessions. Participants with ADHD without medication exhibited elevated perceptual thresholds and slower reaction times on the texture discrimination task, relative to neurotypical controls. In contrast, ADHD participants with medication demonstrated significantly lower thresholds, even surpassing those of the control group. Despite these baseline differences, all groups showed perceptual learning, with improved performance over the days. These findings suggest that while overall perceptual learning mechanisms in ADHD are comparable to those of controls, there are distinct differences in temporal processing and attentional allocation, particularly under dual-task conditions.