Unifying the ADHD Paradox: A Computational Model of Cognitive Specialization

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is characterized by a paradoxical cognitiveprofile that includes both attentional inconsistency and the capacity for intense, sustainedfocus. This paper introduces a computational model that reframes this paradox not as a deficit,but as a coherent cognitive strategy. The model proceeds from the foundational premise thatconscious thought is a serial process, positing that a constrained working memory (WM)necessitates a Depth-First Search (DFS)-like strategy for navigating a conceptual space. Thisarchitecture is modulated by an activation threshold that produces a trade-off between twodistinct cognitive styles: a "Methodical" agent, which is reliable but slower, and an "Exploratory"agent, which is faster but less reliable. We test these two specialists across environments withvarying levels of entropy, revealing a powerful Agent x Environment interaction. TheMethodical agent excels as a high-entropy specialist, adapted for noisy environments, while theExploratory agent excels as a low-entropy specialist, adapted for structured environments. This"goodness-of-fit" model provides a quantitative foundation for the Mismatch Hypothesis,suggesting that these cognitive styles are not universally advantageous or disadvantageous, butreflect coherent ecological specializations.