Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder-like traits and distractibility in the visual periphery

Panagiotidi, M; Overton, PG; Stafford, T

Abstract

We examined the performance of non-clinical subjects with high and low levels of self-reported ADHD-like traits in a novel distractibility paradigm with far peripheral visual distractors, the likely origin of many distractors in everyday life. Subjects were tested on a Sustained Attention to Response Task with distractors appearing before some of the target/non-target stimuli. When the distractors appeared 80 ms before the targets/non-targets, participants with high levels of ADHD-like traits were less affected in their reaction times than those with lower levels. Reducing the distractor-target/non-target interval to 10 ms removed the reaction time advantage for the high group. We suggest that at 80 ms the distractors were cueing the arrival of the target/non-target and that those with high levels of ADHD-like traits were more sensitive to the cues. Increased sensitivity to stimuli in the visual periphery is consistent with hyper-responsiveness at the level of the superior colliculus.

Citation

Panagiotidi, M., Overton, P., & Stafford, T. (2017). Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder-like traits and distractibility in the visual periphery. Perception, 46(6), 665-678. https://doi.org/10.1177/0301006616681313

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 5, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Nov 28, 2016
• Publication Date: Jun 1, 2017
• Deposit Date: Oct 23, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 23, 2018
• Journal: Perception
• Print ISSN: 0301-0066
• Electronic ISSN: 1468-4233
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Volume: 46
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 665-678
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0301006616681313
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/0301006616681313
• Related Public URLs: http://journals.sagepub.com/home/pec