Exploring a Possible Link Between ADHD and Inattentional Blindness

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is characterized by impulsivity, hyperactivity, and inattention. These symptoms of inattention led us to wonder about a connection between ADHD and the phenomenon of inattentional blindness. We attempted to replicate a previous study done on this subject, and based on the results of that study, we hypothesized that people with ADHD would display more inattentional blindness in perceptually simple tasks and less inattentional blindness in perceptually complex tasks. Our results indicate that there is no significant correlation between ADHD and inattentional blindness in either type of task. This finding goes against our initial hypothesis and the conclusions from the only prior study on this topic. People with ADHD may not have the advantage of reduced inattentional blindness.