Researchers Identify Sleep-Like Brain Waves as Key to Attention Lapses in ADHD
Scientists have discovered that adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) experience brief patterns of brain activity, typically seen during deep sleep, intruding into their waking hours. This phenomenon is linked to frequent attention lapses and excessive daytime sleepiness in individuals with ADHD. The study, published in The Journal of Neuroscience, suggests that ADHD may be closely related to how the brain manages the boundary between sleep and wakefulness. Researchers conducted an experiment involving 63 young adults, including 32 diagnosed with ADHD, to observe their brain activity during a sustained attention task. The study found that individuals with ADHD exhibited a higher frequency of slow waves, which are indicative of localized brain regions entering a sleep-like state. These findings provide a potential explanation for the attentional difficulties experienced by those with ADHD. 
