Recent research has found that people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) experience more flickers in wakefulness than others. ADHD, which is already associated with a higher risk of sleep disorders and daytime sleepiness, is also linked to increased mind wandering and mind blanking. This paper, published in the Journal of Neuroscience , looked at whether slow-wave brain activity, which has a “sleep-like” effect on the mind, was more common among those with undiagnosed ADHD, and whether those waves might affect people’s attention. What did the research find? The scientists looked at the brain waves of 32 people with ADHD who weren’t on medication and 31 neurotypical people during a task which required sustained attention. They did this through electroencephalography (EEG). During their task, the participants with ADHD seemed to have more periods of “sleep-like” slow wave activity. And that seemed to be linked to breaks in attention, mind blanks, and mind wandering. An increased density of slow-wave activity was also associated with more mistakes, slower reaction times, and higher self-reported sleepiness. This, the paper said, might mean “slow waves represent a neurophysiological mechanism underlying attentional difficulties in ADHD”. Does that mean that “sleep loops” always suggest ADHD? Though people with ADHD had higher rates of slow-wave activity, study author Elaine Pinggal said , “Sleep-like brain activity is a normal phenomenon that happens during demanding tasks. Think of going for a long run and getting tired after a while, which makes you pause to take a break. Everyone experiences these brief moments of sleep-like activity. “In people with ADHD, however, this activity occurs more frequently, and our research suggests this increased sleep-like activity may be a key brain mechanism that helps explain why these individuals have more difficulty maintaining consistent attention and performance during tasks.” Researchers hope this finding might help to make better treatment for people with ADHD. Related... It Turns Out There Might Be Three Different Types Of ADHD Getting Kids With ADHD To Do Homework Straight After School Can Seriously 'Backfire' An Expert's Guide To Talking To Your Boss About ADHD