Project Description

Attentional Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition affecting control of attention and action. Mounting evidence links these difficulties to impaired oculomotor control. However, cognitive control in ADHD is also characterised by variability, and there is evidence that this variability may reflect impaired self-regulation of autonomic state. Mindfulness has been shown to improve autonomic self-regulation in ADHD, but can be challenging for young people with ADHD to engage with.

RECOGNeyes is an eyetracker-based computer game designed to strengthen oculomotor control. Promising proof-of-concept findings include improved attentional control, and associated changes in the brain’s oculomotor network, measured using magnetoencephalography and fMRI. However, our pilot findings also indicate that task performance at any given time is strongly associated with measures of autonomic activity, e.g. changes in pupil size and heart rate.

We have therefore started to develop an autonomic biofeedback module for RECOGNeyes, which feeds back autonomic signals as natural or musical sounds, during both RECOGNeyes gameplay and a “Mindful Breathing” task. The idea is that the player implicitly learns to self-regulate their autonomic state in a way that optimises oculomotor performance, while autonomic biofeedback during Mindful Breathing scaffolds the learning of Mindfulness.

This project will entail continued development of the module, and iterative proof-of-concept testing. Development methodology will include co-design workshops with user groups, using a custom-built interface designed to facilitate hands-on experimentation and collaborative design decisions. The module will be designed to allow customisation by the user, allowing the soundscape to reflect their attentional state in ways they find meaningful.