The Recursive Temporal Appraisal Loop (RTAL): A Feedback-First Architecture Model of ADHD

While models of ADHD often focus on linear deficits in executive functions, they can fail to capture the looping, recursive nature of the lived cognitive experience. This paper introduces the Recursive Temporal Appraisal Loop (RTAL), a model that reframes ADHD cognition as operating on a feedback-first architecture. It is posited that before feedforward action is possible, the system must first complete a synthesis of relevant material, a sequence termed pre-feedforward calibration. The Temporal Double Bind (TDB) is formalized as the initiating condition for RTAL engagement—conflicting cross-timescale imperatives without an operative metarule. The RTAL is treated as a transactional process, where internal appraisals are continuously shaped by environmental feedback. The model shows how cognitive-load composition steers the loop toward either productive Repetition or pathological Recollection. RTALs become pathological when working memory saturation and a weak temporal signal create spiral amplification. Predictions are outlined that link load composition and chronotype to loop outcomes, plus operational metrics enabling direct empirical tests. This model explains why simple choices can feel overwhelming and why effective interventions must support this recursive process rather than attempting to override the architecture.