Do you ever feel like time just slips away with ADHD?

Struggling to get things done on time is a common challenge for people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). But what if the problem goes beyond simply forgetting appointments or tasks? Mette (2023) suggests that adults with ADHD may have difficulties with something even more fundamental: perceiving time itself.

The Brain Regions Involved in Time Perception

Scientists are starting to unravel the mystery behind time perception difficulties in ADHD. Several key brain regions seem to play a role (Mette, 2023):

1. Prefrontal Cortex: This area acts like your brain's control center and is responsible for planning, decision-making, and working memory. When the PFC isn't functioning optimally, it can be harder to gauge time effectively and manage tasks accordingly.
2. Cerebellum: This region involves motor control, coordination, and, yes, even timing. Studies using fMRI (fancy brain scans) have shown that adults with ADHD have increased activity in some regions
   of the cerebellum during time estimation tasks with distractions. It's like the cerebellum is working overtime to compensate for underlying timing issues.
3. Basal Ganglia: This group of structures involves habit formation, learning procedures, and timing aspects. Researchers are still figuring out how exactly the basal ganglia contributes to time estimation difficulties in ADHD, but it's definitely a player.
   

Brainwaves and the Clock in Your Head

Mette (2023) tells us that studies using EEG have measured brainwave activity during time estimation tasks in adults with ADHD, and here are the results:

1. They showed different patterns compared to healthy individuals. Specifically, one study found that adults with ADHD had lower levels of theta waves during time estimation. Theta waves are essential for functions like learning, memory, and attention.
2. This suggests a potential link between altered brainwave activity and time perception struggles in ADHD.

Gamma Waves and a Boost from Medication

A different type of brain scan, MEG, looked at brain activity related to gamma waves during time estimation tasks. Gamma waves are associated with higher-level thinking, like attention and processing information, and here is what Mette (2023) found:

1. Adults with ADHD had reduced gamma activity in specific brain regions crucial for time perception.
2. 
   Medication seemed to improve gamma activity and performance in the time estimation task.
3. This suggests that medication might play a role in regulating brain activity and aiding time perception in ADHD.
   

References

1. Mette, Christian. (2023). Time Perception in Adult ADHD: Findings from a Decade—A Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 20. 3098. 10.3390/ijerph20043098.