Conflict Processing Deficits

Conflict processing deficits create difficulties in detecting and resolving situations where multiple stimuli compete for attention, common to those with ADHD, schizophrenia,or other neurodevelopmental disorders. In particular, they have difficulty with semantic conflicts (conflicting messages) and stimulus-stimulus conflicts (conflicting stimuli within the same category—causing confusion in how to respond). Negative consequences: 

• Susceptibility to biases and delusional beliefs (persisting in the face of evidence against them) leads to limited analytic reasoning. Difficulty in filtering out irrelevant stimuli leads to poor decision-making when faced with multiple options and less information.
• Impaired inhibitory and attention control has potential mental health effects, like anxiety and depression, in struggling to effectively manage competing external responses.