To propose a constraint-level framework that conceptualizes ADHD as a disorder of operational capacity, emphasizing the challenges of sustained engagement under cognitive and emotional demand.
Approach:
Operational Economy (OE): A regulatory constraint principle that models sustained engagement as a buffered state, becoming fragile near saturation.
Global Switching Framework (GSF): A framework that mediates rapid state transitions into disengagement once engagement stability is exceeded, highlighting the dynamics of disengagement.
Key Findings:
ADHD is characterized by intact initial performance but late-stage disengagement that is abrupt, involuntary, and context-dependent.
The framework predicts sensitivity to cumulative demand and stress-related disengagement.
Interpretation:
The proposed framework integrates existing models while emphasizing threshold-dependent dynamics and bounded tolerance in ADHD, differentiating it from previous models.
Limitations:
The framework requires empirical validation, which is essential for its acceptance in the field.
It may not fully account for all individual differences across ADHD subtypes.
Conclusion:
The framework provides a coherent account of ADHD's clinical features and generates falsifiable predictions for future research, aligning with existing empirical findings.
