Get started
Work

Pupillary unrest is attenuated in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: We investigated the phenomenon of pupillary unrest in individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) compared to neurotypical controls. We measured the power of low-frequency pupil oscillations under two experimental conditions: a passive condition with minimal distraction and a resting condition with no distraction. The study included 76 adult participants (42 controls and 34 with ADHD) aged 18-40. The results show that individuals with ADHD exhibit reduced power in pupillary oscillations, suggesting a suppression of general catecholaminergic activity. The nature of the experiment indicates that this suppression is endemic in the background and independent of the visual task or the ongoing cognitive effort. This finding is consistent with our previous observations of reduced pupil dilations in ADHD during active tasks [1] and provide basic insights for future research aimed at developing and refining a psychophysical paradigm that could serve as a biomarker to enhance ADHD evaluation and classification.
DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2025.138148
Authors: Claudio M. Privitera, Sean Noah, Thom Carney, Stanley A. Klein, Agatha Lenartowicz, Stephen P. Hinshaw, James T. McCracken, Joel T. Nigg, Sarah L. Karalunas, Rory C. Reid, Mercedes Oliva, Samantha S. Betts, Gregory V. Simpson
Institutions: University of California, Berkeley, University of California, Los Angeles, University of California, San Francisco, Oregon Health & Science University, Purdue University West Lafayette, University of California, Santa Cruz, University of Southern California
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,430
OpenAlex ID: W4407121809
FWCI: 0.62
Cites: 16
Cited by: 1
Related to: 10