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Related Concept Videos

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder01:30

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings.
Automatic Processing and Automatic Social Behavior01:28

Automatic Processing and Automatic Social Behavior

Automatic processing refers to the cognitive operations that occur without conscious intent or awareness, playing a fundamental role in shaping social cognition and behavior. These processes enable individuals to navigate complex social environments efficiently by relying on mental shortcuts and pre-existing knowledge structures known as schemas. One of the most influential mechanisms underlying automatic processing is priming, which subtly activates mental representations through exposure to...
Parallel Processing01:20

Parallel Processing

The brain processes sensory information rapidly due to parallel processing, which involves sending data across multiple neural pathways at the same time. This method allows the brain to manage various sensory qualities, such as shapes, colors, movements, and locations, all concurrently. For instance, when observing a forest landscape, the brain simultaneously processes the movement of leaves, the shapes of trees, the depth between them, and the various shades of green. This enables a quick and...
Information Processing Approach01:30

Information Processing Approach

The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is also...
High-Level and Low-Level Awareness01:19

High-Level and Low-Level Awareness

Controlled processes in human consciousness represent high-alert mental states where individuals deliberately focus their attention on achieving specific goals. Controlled processes can be seen in situations like mastering new technology, where a person might become so absorbed that they ignore surrounding distractions. Such processes involve selective attention, requiring one to concentrate on particular elements of experience while disregarding others. These are governed by executive...
Perception01:28

Perception

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 20, 2026

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients
05:48

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients

Published on: June 12, 2020

Automatic and controlled processing in ADHD: A mini-perspective on attention, visual processing, and learning.

Giulia Picciotto1, Giulia Currò2, Elena Ricchiazzi2

  • 1Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.

Applied Neuropsychology. Child
|June 19, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) involves unstable interactions between automatic and controlled processing, impacting attention and learning. This perspective reframes ADHD beyond attention deficits, linking perception, executive function, and education.

Keywords:
ADHDautomatic processingchild neuropsychologycontrolled processingexecutive functionslearningvisual attention

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Last Updated: Jun 20, 2026

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Measuring Attention and Visual Processing Speed by Model-based Analysis of Temporal-order Judgments
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Published on: December 7, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Educational Psychology

Background:

  • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is typically defined by behaviors, potentially overlooking underlying cognitive processes.
  • Existing behavioral definitions may not fully capture the complexity of ADHD-related impairments in daily functioning.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose a new framework for understanding ADHD as an unstable interaction between automatic and controlled cognitive processing.
  • To explore how this interaction influences various cognitive functions and academic performance.
  • To bridge findings across perceptual, executive, and educational domains.

Main Methods:

  • Theoretical perspective integrating existing models of ADHD.
  • Review of empirical research on sensory processing, visual attention, and learning.
  • Analysis of cognitive mechanisms like interference control and working memory.

Main Results:

  • ADHD difficulties may stem from inefficient transitions between rapid, stimulus-driven responses and slower, goal-directed control.
  • This processing instability impacts attentional selection, visual exploration, and academic functioning.
  • The proposed framework explains variability in ADHD task performance.

Conclusions:

  • ADHD is better understood not as a unitary attention deficit, but as a broader condition involving perceptual selection and executive regulation.
  • This perspective links cognitive processing dynamics to learning and academic outcomes.
  • Reconsidering ADHD through the lens of automatic vs. controlled processing offers a more comprehensive understanding.