Attentional networks, vigilance, and distraction as a function of ADHD symptoms

Attentional difficulties are a core axis in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, establishing a consistent and detailed pattern of these neurocognitive alterations has not been an easy endeavor. The present study aimed at thoroughly characterizing three key attentional domains, namely, the three attentional networks (alerting, orienting, and executive attention), two components of vigilance (executive and arousal vigilance), and distraction. To do so, we modified a single, fine-grained task (the ANTI-Vea) by adding irrelevant distractors. One hundred and twenty undergraduates completed three questionnaires of ADHD symptoms in childhood and adulthood and performed the ANTI-Vea. Despite the low reliability of some ANTI-Vea indexes, the task worked successfully. While ADHD symptoms in childhood were related to alerting network and arousal vigilance, ADHD in adulthood were linked to executive vigilance. No association between ADHD symptoms and executive attention and distraction was found. In general, our hypotheses about the relationships between ADHD symptoms and attentional processes, were supported only partially at most. We discuss our findings according to ADHD theories and attention measurement.