Scientists in Finland have developed a virtual reality (VR) game to help detect attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) characteristics in players (Seesjärvi et al., 2022). The game, called EPELI (Executive Performance in Everyday Living) asks players to complete 13 task sets mimicking real-life goal-directed behaviors such as getting ready for school. A dragon character gives instructions, and VR technology tracks players’ attention and executive function as reflected by their eye movements. 

The game also features a “Shoot the Target” task in which players attack targets by looking directly at them. Could digital tools like this become a standard part of ADHD assessments and evaluations? 

Eye Movement Differences With ADHD 

Previous research has shown that people with ADHD have differences in goal-directed eye movements. When people read, for example, their eyes make short, sharp movements to take in all the letters in words in sentences. These movements are known as saccades. People with ADHD often have trouble controlling saccades. They may be less able to suppress or slow them. They may also have trouble keeping their eyes focused on an object or directing their focus exactly where they want it (Bucci et al., 2017).   

In this study, researchers compared the task performance and eye movements of players with and without ADHD. Clear differences emerged. Players with ADHD navigated and performed tasks less efficiently. Their eye movements also differed, with shorter saccades and longer fixations. Researchers found that eye-movement differences accurately predicted whether a player was in the ADHD or control group (Merzon et al., 2022).  

A Complementary Measure 

Researchers say eye-tracking data from VR games could become an objective, complementary part of ADHD evaluations, alongside validated ADHD assessments, interviews, and clinical observations.  

To learn more about comprehensive ADHD assessments, executive function assessments, and more, speak with a WPS Assessment Consultant in your area. 

Further Reading:

The WPS In-Depth Guide to ADHD Assessments

Why It's So Important to Test Executive Function in Children with ADHD

Research and Resources: 

Bucci, M. P., Stordeur, C., Septier, M., Acquaviva, E., Peyre, H., & Delorme, R. (2017). Oculomotor abnormalities in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder are improved by methylphenidate. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 27(3), 274–280. https://doi.org/10.1089/cap.2016.0162  

Merzon, L., Pettersson, K., Aronen, E.T., Huhdanpää, H., Seesjärvi, E., Henriksson, L., MacInnes, W. J., Mannerkoski, M., Macaluso, E., & Salmi, J. (2022). Eye movement behavior in a real-world virtual reality task reveals ADHD in children. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 20308. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-24552-4 

Seesjärvi, E., Puhakka, J., Aronen, E. T., Lipsanen, J., Mannerkoski, M., Hering, A., Zuber, S., Kliegel, M., Laine, M., & Salmi, J. (2022). Quantifying ADHD symptoms in open-ended everyday life contexts with a new virtual reality task. Journal of Attention Disorders, 26(11), 1394–1411. https://doi.org/10.1177/10870547211044214