Visual Selective Attention in Adults with ADHD: Electrophysiological Evidence of Facilitation and Suppression

Couperus, Jane W.; Alperin, Brittany R.; Furlong, Dylan; Mott, Katherine · 2014 · Crossref

DOI: 10.4236/jbbs.2014.43017

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Summary

This study investigates the neural mechanisms of visual selective attention in adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), specifically examining the roles of facilitation and suppression. While ADHD is often characterized by deficits in sustained attention and inhibition, less is known about selective attention in adults, particularly regarding suppressive mechanisms. The research aims to determine if adults with ADHD exhibit functional facilitation (enhancing attended stimuli) and suppression (inhibiting unattended distractors) using electrophysiological markers, addressing a gap in literature that has largely focused on children or behavioral outcomes. The researchers recruited 25 adults with ADHD and 25 control participants, all right-handed and free of psychotropic medications during testing. Participants performed a cued visual spatial selective attention task involving 1,000 trials. A directional cue indicated the location of a target and probabilistically predicted the presence of a distractor (70% valid). Electroencephalograms (EEGs) were recorded to analyze two specific event-related potential components: the Attention Directing Anterior Negativity (ADAN), reflecting preparatory attentional control, and the P1 component, reflecting early visual processing. Statistical analyses included repeated-measures ANOVAs to compare group differences in reaction time, accuracy, and ERP amplitudes. Behavioral results showed that both groups had slower reaction times and lower accuracy when distractors were present, with no significant differences between ADHD and control groups. Electrophysiologically, both groups demonstrated significant attention modulation in the ADAN, indicating intact preparatory facilitation. However, only the ADHD group showed significant modulations in the ADAN related to distractor anticipation, suggesting unique patterns in preparatory suppression or facilitation. Regarding stimulus processing, both groups exhibited significant P1 modulations driven by attention and distractor expectancy. Specifically, when a distractor was anticipated, participants showed increased processing of the attended target (stimulus facilitation) and decreased processing of the unattended distractor (stimulus suppression). No deficits in early perceptual processing were observed in the ADHD group. The findings indicate that adults with ADHD possess functional visual spatial selective attention, utilizing both facilitation and suppression mechanisms similarly to neurotypical adults. This contrasts with previous studies showing deficits in children, supporting the theory that ADHD may involve a developmental lag in brain maturation that resolves in adulthood. The study provides the first electrophysiological evidence of preparatory attention effects in adults with ADHD and highlights that while preparatory processing may differ slightly between groups, core selective attention functions remain intact. These results suggest that visual selective attention deficits are not a persistent feature of adult ADHD, contributing to a more nuanced understanding of the disorder’s neurobiology.

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• attention selective divided