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ADHD Adults Exhibit Sleep-Like Brain Activity While Awake

3/18/2026

Summary

Story summary

A study in Journal of Neuroscience (JNeurosci) finds that adults with ADHD show sleep-like brain activity while awake.
The study compared 32 unmedicated adults with ADHD to 31 neurotypical individuals.
The ADHD group showed attention lapses tied to brain episodes.
Elaine Pinggal of Monash University notes the phenomenon is common in demanding tasks and ADHD.
Future research may test auditory sleep stimulation to reduce daytime sleep-like activity and improve attention.

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Story summary

A study in Journal of Neuroscience (JNeurosci) finds that adults with ADHD show sleep-like brain activity while awake.
The study compared 32 unmedicated adults with ADHD to 31 neurotypical individuals.
The ADHD group showed attention lapses tied to brain episodes.
Elaine Pinggal of Monash University notes the phenomenon is common in demanding tasks and ADHD.
Future research may test auditory sleep stimulation to reduce daytime sleep-like activity and improve attention.