Testing possible mechanisms of deficient supra-second time estimation in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Abstract

Numerous studies indicate deficient time estimation in individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Several hypotheses have been raised to explain this deficit including delay aversion, vulnerability to nontemporal distractions, deficient working memory, as well as pure deficit in temporal processing. To test the different hypotheses, adults with or without ADHD performed a prospective time-estimation task under different conditions: with or without nontemporal distraction; and with or without increased load of working memory. Such design was used to rule out the effect of motor control and to manipulate the hypothesized mechanisms of working memory and attention to nontemporal stimuli. The authors report that compared with the control group, adults with ADHD showed greater and more variable deviation in time estimation. In addition, the magnitude of time estimation was affected by allocation of attention to nontemporal stimuli and by load of working memory. The intraindividual variability of time estimation was only partially accounted for by load of working memory. These findings suggest that the ADHD-associated deficit in prospective time estimation is not attributable to special attention to nontemporal stimuli or compromised working memory.

Adjustment of Time Perception in the Range of Seconds and Milliseconds

“…Therefore, findings on the seconds scale support the presence of a faster internal clock in participants with ADHD. This is consistent with other evidence (e.g., Pollak, Kroyzer, Yakir, & Friedler, 2009), which suggests that alterations in timing can be separated from compromised working memory or delay aversion.…”

Neuropsychological assessment of adults with ADHD: A Delphi consensus study

“…In contrast, the expert panel considered also functions as important which did not play a central role in the majority of research on the clinical neuropsychology of adults with ADHD, such as time estimation. There is indeed evidence of altered time estimation and reproduction in individuals with ADHD (Barkley, Edwards, Laneri, Fletcher, & Metevia, 2001;Mette et al, 2015;Noreika, Falter, & Rubia, 2013;Pollak, Kroyzer, Yakir, & Friedler, 2009;Prevatt, Proctor, Baker, Garrett, & Yelland, 2011), nevertheless, measures of time estimation and reproduction have not been routinely used in the assessment of adults with ADHD. Taken together, our conclusion is twofold.…”

No Clear Association between Impaired Short-Term or Working Memory Storage and Time Reproduction Capacity in Adult ADHD Patients

“…The authors of that study compared three counting prevention methods: instructions not to count, the articulatory suppression method, and the administration of an interference task. Rattat and colleagues demonstrated that the instruction method most effectively prevented counting during time reproduction tasks [ 12 , 60 , 65 ]. Nevertheless, the possibility that the participants were not truthful with respect to counting during the time reproduction test cannot be ruled out.…”