ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects approximately 7% of children. It is estimated that 30% to 60% of them retain the diagnosis into adulthood. Classification systems define the core symptoms of this disorder as attention deficits, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. In recent years, however, clinical and neuropsychological research has provided evidence that emotional dysregulation may be just as significant a symptom of ADHD.
Psychophysiological studies using eye-tracking methods have shown that individuals with ADHD exhibit specific eye movement patterns that may serve as potential biomarkers of the disorder. Despite considerable evidence of specific attention allocation patterns, research on biomarkers related to emotional processes, such as pupillometry, is still in development and requires further investigation.
Given the importance of emotional dysregulation in ADHD, particularly the elevated levels of frustration intolerance observed in individuals with the disorder, it becomes justified to examine the impact of frustration on specific visual biomarkers. The aim of the study is to test the following hypotheses. H1: frustration will cause a greater change in eye-tracking parameters in individuals with ADHD compared to baseline and to the control group; H2: frustration will induce greater pupil dilation amplitude compared to baseline and to the control group.
Previous studies on ADHD biomarkers, such as specific eye movement patterns and pupillometry, suggest the possibility of developing more objective diagnostic methods. Further evidence in this area may contribute to the creation of new diagnostic tools that reduce the subjectivity of clinical assessment, thereby supporting clinicians in the precise identification of the disorder.