A new diffusion MRI study explores differences in white-matter organisation between the left and right hemispheres in adults with ADHD. What do these findings reveal about brain connectivity, and why should we be cautious about interpreting them?
This sounds like science fiction: can AI detect ADHD through movement?
Could artificial intelligence identify patterns associated with ADHD simply by analysing how people move? A study published in Scientific Reports explored whether movement features extracted from short home video recordings could distinguish young adults with and without ADHD.
This article examines the potential of AI-assisted assessment, the limitations of a small preliminary study, and the ethical questions surrounding the interpretation and use of behavioural data.
Your brain knows what you’re listening to (and now we can measure it)
Can EEG reveal which voice someone is listening to in a noisy environment? Auditory attention decoding uses patterns of neural activity to investigate how the brain selects and follows speech when multiple sound sources compete for attention.
This article explores the possibilities of measuring auditory attention in real time, the implications for hearing technology and ADHD research, and the important questions such advances raise about privacy, consent and the interpretation of neural data.
The brain changes after ADHD medication. That does not make the signal a biomarker.
Can EEG reveal how ADHD medication affects the brain? A systematic review of methylphenidate studies identifies potentially consistent changes in the P3 event-related potential, alongside considerable variability in other electrophysiological findings.
Drawing on this research and my own doctoral work, I explore why detecting a medication-related neural change is not the same as developing a clinically useful biomarker, and what this distinction means for future ADHD research.
Can EEG identify ADHD? The search for an objective biomarker may be asking the wrong question.
Could EEG provide an objective biological test for ADHD? Advances in machine learning have renewed interest in identifying neural patterns associated with ADHD, but predicting screening results is not the same as establishing a clinical diagnosis.
Drawing on recent research and my own doctoral work in auditory electrophysiology, this article examines the limitations of EEG-based classification, the importance of socioeconomic and developmental context, and why better prediction does not necessarily mean better biological understanding.
Misophonia in ADHD: when everyday sounds feel like an alarm.
For some people, everyday sounds such as chewing, tapping or repetitive breathing can trigger unexpectedly intense emotional reactions. This experience, known as misophonia, is increasingly being examined in research into sensory processing, attention and emotional regulation.
This article explores how misophonia may intersect with ADHD, why particular sounds can become difficult to ignore, and how greater awareness of sensory experiences may help us better understand everyday functioning.
When the hearing test is normal but listening is still difficult.
Some adults experience considerable difficulty following conversations in noisy environments, even when conventional hearing tests show normal results.
Drawing on a recent scoping review of auditory processing disorder assessment in adults and my own doctoral research on auditory processing in ADHD, this article explores the distinction between hearing and listening, the limitations of current assessment methods and the importance of understanding real-world listening difficulties.
ADHD and auditory processing: where does the difference actually begin?
Listening involves several stages of neural processing, from the automatic detection of sound changes to attentional orienting and more deliberate cognitive processing.
Drawing on EEG research examining MMN, P3a and P3b responses in children with ADHD, this article explores why auditory difficulties may not be explained by attention alone and how electrophysiological methods can help identify where differences emerge.
What if variability is not the noise in ADHD, but part of the signal?
People with ADHD may perform a task successfully one day and struggle with the same task the next. Traditional research often focuses on average performance, but averages can hide important differences in consistency.
Drawing on research using pupil measurements during working-memory tasks, this article explores why variability itself may provide valuable insights into attention, cognitive functioning and the limitations of conventional research measures.
Neuroscience loves quiet rooms. Real life is rarely quiet.
Controlled laboratory experiments allow neuroscientists to isolate and measure specific processes, but everyday listening takes place in far more complex environments.
Drawing on my doctoral research into auditory processing and spatial listening in adults with ADHD, this article explores the gap between laboratory measurements and real-world experiences, and why understanding both is essential.
