Research Symposium

BIO

Cassie Amitrano is a second-year at Florida State University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience with a minor in Chemistry on the pre–Physician Assistant track. Originally from New York, she moved to Orlando, Florida, and now to Tallahassee, Florida to continue her education and pursue opportunities in research and healthcare. Her research interests focus on behavioral neuroscience, public health, and nutrition, and she is currently exploring research related to ADHD and spatial orientation, examining how attention-related disorders may affect the way individuals perceive and navigate their environment, alongside Dr. Dorota Kossowska-Kuhn and Ms. Amelia Bush. Cassie hopes to continue gaining research experience during her undergraduate years and plans to apply to Physician Assistant programs after graduation. Her long-term goal is to work in healthcare where she can combine her scientific background, clinical skills, and dedication to community service to improve patient care.

ADHD and Spatial Orientation: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

This study evaluated spatial orientation abilities in individuals diagnosed with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) compared to neurotypical controls. ADHD is defined in the DSM-5-TR as a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent patterns of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity interfering with functioning or development. Spatial orientation refers to the ability to perceive, interact with, and maintain awareness in a three-dimensional environment through integration of multisensory information. Spatial orientation has been associated with learning disabilities specific to geometric and mathematical reasoning. While prior research has studied spatial orientation and ADHD independently, their relationship has not been examined. Understanding this relationship may expand the scope of understanding of ADHD-related cognition and inform treatment approaches. This study holds importance as it examines under-researched aspects of neurodevelopment, addressing a significant gap in the existing literature. To investigate this relationship, a meta-analysis was conducted to review literature across databases using Covidence. The study began with 165 articles at the title and abstract stage, with 36 advancing to full-text review. Inclusion and exclusion criteria resulted in 18 articles being selected for extraction. Multiple reviewers were involved in the screening process, with consensus between two reviewers required for inclusion. Conflicts were resolved by a third reviewer to ensure reliability. Afterwards, relevant data were extracted and analyzed, providing a comprehensive overview of existing research on spatial orientation in ADHD. Expected results include ADHD groups exhibiting poorer spatial orientation abilities than neurotypical controls. Implications of these results will widen the scope of the current understanding of ADHD’s influence on cognition.

Keywords: ADHD, Psychology, Spatial Orientation