Transcranial random noise stimulation shifts time reproduction in opposite directions for ADHD and TD individuals

Abstract

Non-invasive brain stimulation is being explored as a potential method for enhancing cognitive function and reducing symptoms in individuals with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), the most common neurodevelopmental disorder in children. Time perception, the ability to estimate and process time intervals, is often impaired in individuals with ADHD and is crucial for daily tasks like planning, decision-making, task completion, etc., Here we examined the effect of Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation (tRNS) on time perception in ADHD individuals. A total of 40 participants, including 20 individuals with ADHD and 20 healthy controls, underwent tRNS over the prefrontal cortex while completing a time perception task. The findings indicate that tRNS improved time perception accuracy in the ADHD group, bringing their performance closer to accurate time intervals. In contrast, the healthy control group showed a decline in time perception accuracy, moving further away from accurate time intervals following stimulation. These results suggest that tRNS produced opposite effects on time perception in ADHD individuals compared to healthy controls. We conclude that tRNS may offer potential therapeutic benefits for individuals with ADHD. Future research could explore whether additional tRNS sessions or stimulation of different brain regions might yield even more promising results.