Title

Asymmetrical visual-spatial attention in college students diagnosed with ADD/ADHD

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology

Publication Date

9-1-2008

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Research indicates that individuals with attention deficit disorder (ADD)/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may exhibit left-right asymmetric spatial attention, with deficient processing of stimuli in the left visual hemispace. However, there is controversy as to when this phenomenon can be observed. BACKGROUND: People with ADD/ADHD do not have obvious spatial bias when performing everyday tasks. Visual cancellation tasks have demonstrated behavioral asymmetry in ADD/ADHD, but results have not been consistent across studies. Children and older adults with ADD or ADHD have been assessed, but previous studies of college students with ADD/ADHD are not available. METHOD: We tested 24 students with ADD or ADHD and 24 control students on a verbal and nonverbal cancellation task. RESULTS: The ADD/ADHD group made significantly more left-sided omission errors than controls on a letter cancellation task. This group difference was not observed for a shape cancellation task, however. CONCLUSIONS: These results support possible left visual inattention in college students with ADD/ADHD. Studies of functional correlates of these attentional phenomena are needed. © 2008 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Volume

21

Issue

3

First Page

176

Last Page

178

DOI

10.1097/WNN.0b013e318185e6a9

ISSN

15433633

PubMed ID

18797260

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