New research is shedding light on how sleep-like brain activity may contribute to attention difficulties in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), compared to neurotypical individuals.
The study involved 32 adults with ADHD who were not taking medication, alongside 31 neurotypical participants. All were asked to complete tasks requiring sustained attention while their brain activity was recorded. Using scalp topography, researchers assessed slow-wave activity—a type of sleep-like brain activity that can occur even during wakefulness. Red on the maps indicated stronger activity, while yellow indicated weaker activity.
The American Psychiatric Association defines attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as one of the most common mental disorders affecting children. Symptoms of ADHD include inattention (not being able to keep focus), hyperactivity (excess movement that is not fitting to the setting), and impulsivity (hasty acts that occur in the moment without thought).
The Findings
Participants with ADHD showed more sleep-like brain activity during attention tasks compared to neurotypical individuals. Researchers found that this increased activity was associated with lapses in attention, slower reaction times, more task errors, and greater subjective sleepiness. In other words, these frequent but brief sleep-like episodes may play a key role in attention difficulties associated with ADHD.
“Sleep-like brain activity is a normal phenomenon that happens during demanding tasks,” said Elaine Pinggal, a Monash University researcher, in a statement. “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,” Monash says. “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.”
The new research builds on earlier studies suggesting that the brain periodically “rests” even while awake. In neurotypical individuals, brief periods of sleep-like brain activity can be influenced by environmental factors such as sound. For example, people often use music or ambient noise to help initiate sleep.
Pinggal believes these findings point to potential intervention strategies. Improving sleep quality could help reduce these “brain drifting” moments during the day. While this may benefit everyone, it could be particularly impactful for adults with ADHD by helping them maintain better focus while awake.
In individuals with ADHD, these low-activity brain states appear to occur more frequently, which may explain their difficulty sustaining attention. A useful comparison is muscle fatigue—the brain, like muscles, can temporarily “slow down” when overworked.
The researchers suggest that improving sleep or using techniques such as music or sound-based stimulation may help mitigate these effects. In the future, this line of research could lead to new approaches for managing ADHD that extend beyond medication, helping individuals remain more alert and focused in daily life.
Chrissy Newton is a PR professional and the founder of VOCAB Communications. She currently appears on The Discovery Channel and Max and hosts the Rebelliously Curious podcast, which can be found on YouTube and on all audio podcast streaming platforms. Follow her on X: @ChrissyNewton, Instagram: @BeingChrissyNewton, and chrissynewton.com. To contact Chrissy with a story, please email chrissy @ thedebrief.org.