Listen to the Noise: Noise is Beneficial for Cognitive Performance in ADHD
Author
Summary, in English
Background: Noise is typically conceived of as being detrimental to cognitive performance. However,
given the mechanism of stochastic resonance, a certain amount of noise can benefit performance. We
investigate cognitive performance in noisy environments in relation to a neurocomputational model of
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and dopamine. The Moderate Brain Arousal model
(MBA; Sikstro¨m & So¨derlund, 2007) suggests that dopamine levels modulate how much noise is
required for optimal cognitive performance. We experimentally examine how ADHD and control children
respond to different encoding conditions, providing different levels of environmental stimulation.
Methods: Participants carried out self-performed mini tasks (SPT), as a high memory performance
task, and a verbal task (VT), as a low memory task. These tasks were performed in the presence, or
absence, of auditory white noise. Results: Noise exerted a positive effect on cognitive performance for
the ADHD group and deteriorated performance for the control group, indicating that ADHD subjects
need more noise than controls for optimal cognitive performance. Conclusions: The positive effect of
white noise is explained by the phenomenon of stochastic resonance (SR), i.e., the phenomenon that
moderate noise facilitates cognitive performance. The MBA model suggests that noise in the environment,
introduces internal noise into the neural system through the perceptual system. This noise
induces SR in the neurotransmitter systems and makes this noise beneficial for cognitive performance.
In particular, the peak of the SR curve depends on the dopamine level, so that participants with low
dopamine levels (ADHD) require more noise for optimal cognitive performance compared to controls.
Keywords: ADHD, stochastic resonance, dopamine, episodic memory, SPT, noise. Abbreviations:
MBA: moderate brain arousal; SR: stochastic resonance; SPT: subject-performed task; VT:
verbal task (VT).
given the mechanism of stochastic resonance, a certain amount of noise can benefit performance. We
investigate cognitive performance in noisy environments in relation to a neurocomputational model of
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and dopamine. The Moderate Brain Arousal model
(MBA; Sikstro¨m & So¨derlund, 2007) suggests that dopamine levels modulate how much noise is
required for optimal cognitive performance. We experimentally examine how ADHD and control children
respond to different encoding conditions, providing different levels of environmental stimulation.
Methods: Participants carried out self-performed mini tasks (SPT), as a high memory performance
task, and a verbal task (VT), as a low memory task. These tasks were performed in the presence, or
absence, of auditory white noise. Results: Noise exerted a positive effect on cognitive performance for
the ADHD group and deteriorated performance for the control group, indicating that ADHD subjects
need more noise than controls for optimal cognitive performance. Conclusions: The positive effect of
white noise is explained by the phenomenon of stochastic resonance (SR), i.e., the phenomenon that
moderate noise facilitates cognitive performance. The MBA model suggests that noise in the environment,
introduces internal noise into the neural system through the perceptual system. This noise
induces SR in the neurotransmitter systems and makes this noise beneficial for cognitive performance.
In particular, the peak of the SR curve depends on the dopamine level, so that participants with low
dopamine levels (ADHD) require more noise for optimal cognitive performance compared to controls.
Keywords: ADHD, stochastic resonance, dopamine, episodic memory, SPT, noise. Abbreviations:
MBA: moderate brain arousal; SR: stochastic resonance; SPT: subject-performed task; VT:
verbal task (VT).
Department/s
Publishing year
2007
Language
English
Pages
840-847
Publication/Series
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines
Volume
48
Issue
8
Links
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
Topic
- Psychology (excluding Applied Psychology)
Keywords
- SPT
- episodic memory
- stochastic resonance
- dopamine
- ADHD
- noise
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 0021-9630