Beyond Neural Noise: Critical Dynamics Predict Slower Reaction Times in Adults With and Without ADHD
Rattachement africain : us, de. Niveau de preuve : code pays fourni par la source.
Le résumé fourni par la source
Abstract Historically, neural variability observed during task was interpreted as “noise,” assumed to obscure meaningful signal and thus something to be minimized both analytically by researchers and functionally by the brain. Changes to this signal-to-noise ratio have been proposed as a possible neural mechanism behind the increased reaction-time variability (RTV) in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, not all variability is the same – in some cases, variability can have some underlying “statistical structure” that can be beneficial to information processing. The challenge lies in distinguishing meaningful variability from random noise. The edge-of-synchrony critical point, which describes a system poised between synchronous and asynchronous regimes, could be a good theoretical framework to study these different types of neural variability. In this study, we investigate whether changes in criticality and oscillatory dynamics preceded slower behavioral responses during a bimodal continuous performance task in ADHD. We find evidence that, prior to slower responses, neural dynamics shift toward criticality in both ADHD and control groups, suggesting that increase variability in ADHD and during attention lapses are related to structured variability and not necessarily random noise. Notably, these findings run counter predictions based on the proposed model and previous literature on neural noise in this population, challenging predictions of edge-of-synchrony criticality as a unifying account of neural variability and behavioral performance. Furthermore, this effect did not emerge at the between-subject level, underscoring the limitations of relying on between-subject correlations to infer neural mechanisms. Impact Statement Our findings add new perspective to the hypothesis that links neural variability to reaction time variability in adults with and without ADHD. We found that neural dynamics shift towards criticality prior to slow reaction times in adults with and without ADHD, but in ADHD, dynamics lie closer to criticality regardless of response type, suggesting a different “attractor” state.
Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.
Le contrôle bibliographique ouvert
DOI retrouvé dans Crossref DOI retrouvé ; titre concordant.
- Titre Crossref
- Beyond Neural Noise: Critical Dynamics Predict Slower Reaction Times in Adults With and Without ADHD
- Date Crossref
- 17/03/2026
- Éditeur
- openRxiv
- Type
- posted-content
Ce recoupement confirme des métadonnées liées au DOI. Il ne confirme ni la méthode ni les conclusions de l’étude, et il ne compte pas comme une seconde source scientifique indépendante.
Où se fait cette recherche
-
Neurobehavioral Systems pays non établi dans la noticeInstitution
-
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin pays non établi dans la noticeUniversité ou école supérieure
-
Wesleyan University pays non établi dans la noticeUniversité ou école supérieure
-
University of Southern California pays non établi dans la noticeUniversité ou école supérieure
-
University of California pays non établi dans la noticeUniversité ou école supérieure
-
Samueli Institute pays non établi dans la noticeOrganisation à but non lucratif
-
University of Portland pays non établi dans la noticeUniversité ou école supérieure
-
University of Nevada pays non établi dans la noticeUniversité ou école supérieure
-
California NanoSystems Institute pays non établi dans la noticeStructure de recherche
-
Purdue University West Lafayette pays non établi dans la noticeUniversité ou école supérieure
-
Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science pays non établi dans la noticeStructure de recherche
-
Department of Psychology Humboldt-UniversitÃďt zu Berlin Berlin Germany 10117 pays non établi dans la noticeInstitution
Neurobehavioral Systems, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin et Wesleyan University, avec 9 autres affiliations.
Une affiliation ne permet pas de déduire la nationalité d’un auteur.