Abstract
Typically, individuals have a bias towards the left visual field. This is often absent in individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A motion-induced blindness task with four targets arranged in a square formation was used to measure left/right and upper/lower spatial biases, and changes over time-on-task. University students (41 female and 17 male) completed the Conner's Adult ADHD self-report short-form, with scores above and below the median forming high (n=30) and low (n=28) attention-deficit/hyperactivity (ADH) trait groups respectively. Both groups had left biases for the total duration of perceptual disappearances and only the high group had left biases for the total number, which all decreased over time-on-task. Group differences emerged when comparing the four spatial quadrants: only the high ADH group showed a significant bias towards the lower left visual field for the duration of disappearances. This result could be attributed to an additive effect of left/right and upper/lower spatial biases. However, no significant biases presented for either ADH group for the number of disappearance when comparing all four targets, highlighting that two independent mechanisms might govern the number and duration of disappearances in MIB. This study supports an association between spatial attention, arousal and ADH traits in MIB.
Meeting abstract presented at VSS 2017