Cognitive strategies in matrix reasoning test of adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder derived from eye movements

Abstract

One of the ways to study problem solving is through the paradigm of matrix reasoning tests. Eye tracking equipment produces data that demonstrates where the participant was looking during the test, and these eye gazes can reveal cognitive strategies used to solve the problem. The literature demonstrates that there are two main strategies, one global and one local, and that the application of these strategies is related to the individual differences of each person. People with greater working memory capacity and greater executive functions tend to make the global strategy while the opposite is related to the local strategy. Considering that the application of one cognitive strategy or another is related to executive control abilities, it is surprising that no study has proposed to analyze cognitive strategies in matrix reasoning tests in populations with difficulties in these abilities. One such group is people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. This group, despite having preserved intelligence, have problems in executive functions. Understanding how this group applies strategies in matrix testing is important to understand cognitive patterns of this group and then develop new intervention strategies that make their lives easier. Therefore, the main objective of this work is twofold: (a) to analyze the eye movement pattern in order to identify which cognitive-visual strategies adults with ADHD apply during a matrix reasoning test; and (b) to compare this pattern with a control group of adults with typical neurodevelopment, in order to find differences in the patterns of the ADHD group and the control group. For this, the neuropsychological profile of each group and their eye movements will be analyzed in a matrix reasoning test.