MindTension, Israeli startup from Kibbutz Nir Am, transforming the diagnosis of attention deficit disorder (ADHD) into an objective science through an innovative system that analyses blinking patterns

MindTension is an Israeli startup operating in the field of digital health. Founded in 2020 by its current CEO Zev Brand and Avi Avital of the University of Haifa and the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, its goal is to develop an EMG-based medical system to measure attention and provide an objective diagnosis of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).

Image courtesy of Freepik

The medical device, based on years of research, detects attention disorders by observing blinking patterns in response to startle sounds. MindTension leverages the brainstem’s reflexive response to sound stimuli to analyse eyelid blinking patterns.

“In individuals with adequate attention, different responses (full blinks, partial blinks) are observed in reaction to different sounds. By contrast, when attention difficulties are present, the reactions become uniform, making a more precise diagnosis possible.”

explains Shatz Azoulay, co-founder of MindTension.According to Shatz Azoulay, MindTension’s innovation in the field of ADHD lies in offering an objective test for a condition that has so far been difficult to assess accurately. Today, ADHD is diagnosed using subjective questionnaires or tests that rely on voluntary participation.

By measuring reflex responses, MindTension can provide a more accurate diagnosis, turning attention testing into an exact science.

“We are beginning to understand that we can provide reliable results on attention, and we expect that we will also be able to offer insights into levels of anxiety or depression.”

explains Shatz Azoulay. The startup was selected as a finalist in the MassChallenge Israel 2022 programme.

The device is currently undergoing approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States, which MindTension has identified as its first target market. Completion of the approval process was expected in the early months of 2024. At the same time, large-scale clinical trials are planned in collaboration with the Geha Mental Health Center in Israel and Mount Sinai Hospital in New York to validate the effectiveness of the algorithm.

MindTension’s innovation lies in its ability to transform ADHD diagnosis into an exact science, overcoming the subjective limitations of questionnaires. But its potential goes further: the team envisions applications in fields with high demands for attention or vigilance (such as long-haul drivers, surgeons, athletes and pilots). In the future, the system could provide diagnoses for conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety or depression, based on biomarkers derived from the brainstem’s reflex response.

MindTension is based in Kibbutz Nir Am, just a few kilometres from the Gaza border. The pogrom of 7 October 2023 profoundly affected the lives of the team members. Some employees endured traumatic experiences: one was barricaded at home with their family under attack; another had to shelter with their children in the kibbutz bunker under extreme stress. Despite this, the company continued to operate, finding in professional routine a psychological lifeline.

MindTension stands out as one of the most dynamic players in Israeli health-tech, combining neuroscience, medical engineering and machine learning to innovate ADHD diagnosis. Supported by international funding, strategic partnerships and strong resilience in a challenging geopolitical context, the startup continues its path toward global clinical validation—looking ahead to the future of mental health and human performance.

Luciano Bassani