The ADHD Tide: A Self-Organising Model of Cyclic Cognitive States in Novelty-Seeking Minds

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is generally framed as a stable neurodevelopmental deficit. Yet individuals often report predictable waves of hyper-focus followed by collapse—patterns the static model cannot explain. We advance the ADHD Tide hypothesis, positing that attention, motivation and executive control in ADHD follow self-organising, quasi-rhythmic states generated by feedback loops among dopaminergic tone, fluctuating executive resources, environmental stimulation and task affordances. These tides differ from circadian or ultradian clocks: they are not driven by fixed oscillators but by context-sensitive regulation seeking an optimal arousal range. Synthesising evidence from dynamic dopamine imaging, intra-individual variability studies, ecological momentary assessments, creativity research and behavioural ecology, we show that tide-like cycling can confer exploratory advantages while clashing with environments that demand sustained, low-stimulation focus. We outline a research programme—experience sampling, dense-sampling neuroimaging and computational modelling—to map state signatures, transition triggers and adaptive functions. Recognising these rhythms reframes clinical goals from enforcing consistency toward harnessing optimal phases, informing state-contingent interventions, rhythm-friendly workplaces and self-management tools. By shifting ADHD from a static deficit to a dynamic regulation profile, the ADHD Tide model offers a unifying lens for research, clinical practice and human-centred design.