Distinct patterns of emotional processing in ADHD and anxiety. Evidence from an eye-movement Go/No-Go task

Abstract

Young people with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) demonstrate cognitive control difficulties, particularly when emotional processing is involved. In contrast, individuals with anxiety show disruptions primarily in threat-related contexts. ADHD and anxiety frequently co-occur and the impact of emotional stimuli on cognitive processes in these groups remains unclear. This study used an eye-tracking Go/No-Go task with emotional (happy, angry) and neutral stimuli to explore attentional processing in children/adolescents with ADHD, anxiety and typically developing (TD) controls. The results showed that children with ADHD had slower disengagement from angry compared to happy faces, while those with anxiety exhibited no such differences. Inhibitory control challenges were evident in the ADHD group for both emotional faces, whereas the anxiety group demonstrated improved control with angry faces. Exploratory analyses suggested that children with comorbid ADHD and anxiety might have distinct cognitive-affective profile, characterized by heightened difficulties in processing emotional stimuli.