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Chien YL, Tai YM, Chiu YN, Tsai WC, Gau SSF. The mediators for the link between autism and real-world executive functions in adolescence and young adulthood. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2024; 28:881-895. [PMID: 37522400 DOI: 10.1177/13623613231184733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT Childhood factors that predict real-world executive function in autism spectrum disorder during the transition into adulthood are largely unknown. This study aimed to identify the predictors for the behavioral and cognitive aspects of real-world executive function in late adolescent and young adult autistic populations. We followed up 289 autistic youth (mean age 11.6 years) and 203 non-autistic controls (10.7 years) to their ages of 16.9 and 15.8, respectively. The Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function scale was used to measure the real-world executive function at late adolescence and young adulthood at follow-up. Potential predictors such as autistic symptoms, inattention or hyperactivity symptoms, peer relationship, emotional symptoms, and parenting styles were assessed in childhood at first enrollment. The results showed that childhood inattention, withdrawn behaviors, social communication difficulties, and child-reported emotion and inattention/hyperactivity may predict real-world lower executive function in late adolescence and young adults with autism. When separating executive function into behavioral and cognitive aspects, we found that oppositional behaviors and peer problems were specific predictors for behavioral regulation and cognitive function, respectively. Our findings suggested that treating common predictors in childhood, such as inattention, may potentially improve real-world executive function in autism during the transition into adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yueh-Ming Tai
- Tri-Service General Hospital of National Defense Medical Center, Taiwan
| | | | | | - Susan Shur-Fen Gau
- National Taiwan University Hospital, Taiwan
- National Taiwan University, Taiwan
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Olsen KD, Sukhodolsky D, Bikic A. Executive functioning in children with ADHD Investigating the cross-method correlations between performance tests and rating scales. Scand J Child Adolesc Psychiatr Psychol 2024; 12:1-9. [PMID: 38645570 PMCID: PMC11027034 DOI: 10.2478/sjcapp-2024-0001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective Replicated evidence shows a weak or non-significant correlation between different methods of evaluating executive functions (EF). The current study investigates the association between rating scales and cognitive tests of EF in a sample of children with ADHD and executive dysfunction. Method The sample included 139 children (aged 6-13) diagnosed with ADHD and executive dysfunctions. The children completed subtests of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB). Parents completed the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) and the Children's Organizational Skills Scale (COSS). Analysis Pairwise Spearman correlations were calculated between the composite and separate subscales of cognitive tests and rating scales. In secondary analyses, pairwise Spearman correlations were conducted between all composite scales and subscales, stratified by child sex and child ADHD subtype. Results The correlation analyses between composite scores yielded no significant correlations. The results when comparing CANTAB TO and BRIEF GE are r=-.095, p=.289, and r=.042, p=.643 when comparing CANTAB TO and COSS TO. The analyses between all composite scales and subscales found one significant negative correlation (r=-.25, p<.01). There are significant cross-method differences when stratified by the ADHD-Inattentive subtype, showing significant negative correlations (moderate) between CANTAB and BRIEF composite (r=-.355, p=.014) and subscales. Discussion It is possible that the different methods measure different underlying constructs of EF. It may be relevant to consider the effects of responder bias and differences in ecological validity in both measurement methods. Conclusion The results found no significant correlations. The expectation in research and clinical settings should not be to find the same results when comparing data from cognitive tests and rating scales. Future research might explore novel approaches to EF testing with a higher level of ecological validity, and designing EF rating scales that capture EF behaviors more so than EF cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Denis Sukhodolsky
- Child Study Centre, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, United States
| | - Aida Bikic
- Institute of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
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Polo-Blanco I, Suárez-Pinilla P, Goñi-Cervera J, Suárez-Pinilla M, Payá B. Comparison of Mathematics Problem-Solving Abilities in Autistic and Non-autistic Children: the Influence of Cognitive Profile. J Autism Dev Disord 2024; 54:353-365. [PMID: 36319804 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05802-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
This study examines relationships between mathematical problem-solving performance (in terms of strategies used and accuracy) and the main cognitive domains associated with mathematical learning (i.e. executive functions, verbal comprehension and social perception) of children with and without autism spectrum disorder (ASD and non-ASD resp.). The study involved 26 ASD and 26 non-ASD children without intellectual disabilities, between 6 and 12 years old, matched by sex, age and school (grade and classroom). The results show a higher percentage of ASD children with problem solving difficulties than non-ASD (57% vs. 23% resp.). Poor performing ASD children showed comparatively lower scores in inhibition, theory of mind and verbal comprehension. Implications for the design of mathematical interventions for ASD students are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Polo-Blanco
- Departamento de Matemáticas Estadística y Computación, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Spain.
| | - Paula Suárez-Pinilla
- Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, Spain
- CIBERSAM. Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Salud Mental, Madrid, Spain
- Grupo de Psiquiatría. IDIVAL: Instituto de Investigación Valdecilla, Santander, Spain
- Departamento de Medicina y Psiquiatría, Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Juncal Goñi-Cervera
- Departamento de Matemáticas Estadística y Computación, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Marta Suárez-Pinilla
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
| | - Beatriz Payá
- Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, Spain
- Grupo de Psiquiatría. IDIVAL: Instituto de Investigación Valdecilla, Santander, Spain
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Lefebvre A, Traut N, Pedoux A, Maruani A, Beggiato A, Elmaleh M, Germanaud D, Amestoy A, Ly-Le Moal M, Chatham C, Murtagh L, Bouvard M, Alisson M, Leboyer M, Bourgeron T, Toro R, Dumas G, Moreau C, Delorme R. Exploring the multidimensional nature of repetitive and restricted behaviors and interests (RRBI) in autism: neuroanatomical correlates and clinical implications. Mol Autism 2023; 14:45. [PMID: 38012709 PMCID: PMC10680239 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-023-00576-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Repetitive and restricted behaviors and interests (RRBI) are core symptoms of autism with a complex entity and are commonly categorized into 'motor-driven' and 'cognitively driven'. RRBI symptomatology depends on the individual's clinical environment limiting the understanding of RRBI physiology, particularly their associated neuroanatomical structures. The complex RRBI heterogeneity needs to explore the whole RRBI spectrum by integrating the clinical context [autistic individuals, their relatives and typical developing (TD) individuals]. We hypothesized that different RRBI dimensions would emerge by exploring the whole spectrum of RRBI and that these dimensions are associated with neuroanatomical signatures-involving cortical and subcortical areas. METHOD A sample of 792 individuals composed of 267 autistic subjects, their 370 first-degree relatives and 155 TD individuals was enrolled in the study. We assessed the whole patterns of RRBI in each individual by using the Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revised and the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale. We estimated brain volumes using MRI scanner for a subsample of the subjects (n = 152, 42 ASD, 89 relatives and 13 TD). We first investigated the dimensionality of RRBI by performing a principal component analysis on all items of these scales and included all the sampling population. We then explored the relationship between RRBI-derived factors with brain volumes using linear regression models. RESULTS We identified 3 main factors (with 30.3% of the RRBI cumulative variance): Factor 1 (FA1, 12.7%) reflected mainly the 'motor-driven' RRBI symptoms; Factor 2 and 3 (respectively, 8.8% and 7.9%) gathered mainly Y-BOCS related items and represented the 'cognitively driven' RRBI symptoms. These three factors were significantly associated with the right/left putamen volumes but with opposite effects: FA1 was negatively associated with an increased volume of the right/left putamen conversely to FA2 and FA3 (all uncorrected p < 0.05). FA1 was negatively associated with the left amygdala (uncorrected p < 0.05), and FA2 was positively associated with the left parietal structure (uncorrected p = 0.001). CONCLUSION Our results suggested 3 coherent RRBI dimensions involving the putamen commonly and other structures according to the RRBI dimension. The exploration of the putamen's integrative role in RSBI needs to be strengthened in further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline Lefebvre
- Fondation Vallée, GHT Paris Sud, Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Gentilly, France.
- UMR 3571 CNRS, Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
- UNIACT Neurospin - INSERM UMR 1129, CEA, Saclay, France.
- Department of Adult Psychiatry, Henri Mondor and Albert Chenevier Hospital, Créteil, France.
- Faculty of Medicine, Université Paris-Saclay, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.
| | - Nicolas Traut
- Unité de Neuroanatomie Appliquée et Théorique, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Amandine Pedoux
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Robert Debré Hospital, APHP, Paris, France
| | - Anna Maruani
- UMR 3571 CNRS, Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Robert Debré Hospital, APHP, Paris, France
| | - Anita Beggiato
- UMR 3571 CNRS, Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Robert Debré Hospital, APHP, Paris, France
| | - Monique Elmaleh
- Department of Pediatric Radiology, Robert-Debré Hospital, APHP, Paris, France
| | - David Germanaud
- UNIACT Neurospin - INSERM UMR 1129, CEA, Saclay, France
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Robert Debré Hospital, APHP, Paris, France
- Center for Research and Interdisciplinarity (CRI), Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Anouck Amestoy
- Autism Expert Center, Charles Perrens Hospital, Bordeaux, France
- Fondation FondaMental, French National Science Foundation, Créteil, France
| | | | - Christopher Chatham
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Neuroscience and Rare Diseases, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland
| | - Lorraine Murtagh
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Neuroscience and Rare Diseases, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland
| | - Manuel Bouvard
- Autism Expert Center, Charles Perrens Hospital, Bordeaux, France
- Fondation FondaMental, French National Science Foundation, Créteil, France
| | - Marianne Alisson
- Department of Pediatric Radiology, Robert-Debré Hospital, APHP, Paris, France
| | - Marion Leboyer
- Fondation FondaMental, French National Science Foundation, Créteil, France
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U955, Institut Mondor de Recherche Biomédicale, Psychiatrie Translationnelle, Créteil, France
| | - Thomas Bourgeron
- UMR 3571 CNRS, Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Roberto Toro
- Unité de Neuroanatomie Appliquée et Théorique, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Guillaume Dumas
- Department of Psychiatry, Université de Montreal, CHU Ste Justine Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Clara Moreau
- UMR 3571 CNRS, Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- Imaging Genetics Center, Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Richard Delorme
- Fondation Vallée, GHT Paris Sud, Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Gentilly, France
- UMR 3571 CNRS, Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- Fondation FondaMental, French National Science Foundation, Créteil, France
- Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
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Kahveci G, Güneyli A. Examining Conjoint Behavioral Consultation to Support 2e-Autism Spectrum Disorder and Gifted Students in Preschool with Academic and Behavior Concerns. Behav Sci (Basel) 2023; 13:674. [PMID: 37622814 PMCID: PMC10451274 DOI: 10.3390/bs13080674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Conjoint behavioral consultation (CBC), as adjusted for 2e children with academic and behavioral difficulties, was the focus of this single-subject design study. Three young children from a preschool participated, together with their parents and teachers. Academic enablers for students-intervention, maintenance, and generalization phases; academic and behavioral competencies-intervention, maintenance, and generalization phases; and teachers', parents', and students' perceptions of the intervention's social validity data were collected among the outcome measures. Findings from multiple participant-related probes pointed to constructive improvements in the phases of intervention, maintenance for listening behavior, and improved on-task skill in intervention, maintenance, and generalization. Additionally, during the consultation, parents and teachers noted improvements in the outcomes of the target behavior such as rhythm keeping, picture-word matching, writing the pictured concept in Turkish, writing the pictured concept in English, short personal story writing, short personal story telling, and verbal math problem solving, and each stakeholder gave the intervention a grade for its social validity. Limitations, potential routes for future study, and implications for preschool CBC intervention are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gül Kahveci
- Faculty of Education, European University of Lefke, Mersin 10, Lefke 99728, Northern Cyprus, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Güneyli
- Faculty of Education, European University of Lefke, Mersin 10, Lefke 99728, Northern Cyprus, Turkey
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Wolff B, Franco VR, Magiati I, Pestell CF, Glasson EJ. Neurocognitive and self-reported psychosocial and behavioral functioning in siblings of individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions: a study using remote self-administered testing. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2023; 45:513-536. [PMID: 37779193 DOI: 10.1080/13803395.2023.2259042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study compared and explored the neurocognitive profiles of siblings of persons with and without neurodevelopmental conditions (NDCs) and associations between objective test performance and self-reported psychosocial functioning. METHODS Siblings of persons with and without NDCs (64 NDC and 64 control siblings; mean age 19.88 years, range 11-27 years, 73.44% female, 75.78% White Caucasian) completed self-report questionnaires and self-administered computerized neurocognitive tests of executive functioning (EF). Using Bayesian analyses, we examined cross-sectional associations between self-reported psychosocial functioning and cognitive test performance, and predictors of EF over 15 months. RESULTS NDC siblings had poorer working memory, inhibition, attention, and shifting compared to controls, as measured by experimental paradigms on the backward Corsi span, N-Back 2-back task, Stop Signal Task, Sustained Attention to Response Task, and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (effect size δ ranging 0.49 to 0.64). Bayesian cross-sectional networks revealed negative emotion reactivity and working memory difficulties were central to the NDC sibling network. Over 15 months, poorer EF (k low test scores) was predicted by negative emotion reactivity, sleep problems, and anxiety, over and above effects of age and subclinical autistic and ADHD traits. Siblings of autistic individuals and persons with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder had higher rates of neurocognitive and psychiatric difficulties than other NDCs and controls (Bayes factors >20). CONCLUSIONS Neurocognitive difficulties were associated with transdiagnostic vulnerability to poorer wellbeing in NDC siblings. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of remote online cognitive testing and highlight the importance of individualized prevention and intervention for NDC siblings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany Wolff
- School of Psychological Science, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
- Telethon Kids Institute, Centre for Child Health Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | | | - Iliana Magiati
- School of Psychological Science, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Carmela F Pestell
- School of Psychological Science, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Emma J Glasson
- Telethon Kids Institute, Centre for Child Health Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
- Discipline of Psychiatry, Medical School, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
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St. John T, Estes AM, Hazlett HC, Marrus N, Burrows CA, Donovan K, Torres Gomez S, Grzadzinski RL, Parish-Morris J, Smith R, Styner M, Garic D, Pandey J, Lee CM, Schultz RT, Botteron KN, Zwaigenbaum L, Piven J, Dager SR. Association of Sex With Neurobehavioral Markers of Executive Function in 2-Year-Olds at High and Low Likelihood of Autism. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e2311543. [PMID: 37140923 PMCID: PMC10160873 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.11543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance Children with autism and their siblings exhibit executive function (EF) deficits early in development, but associations between EF and biological sex or early brain alterations in this population are largely unexplored. Objective To investigate the interaction of sex, autism likelihood group, and structural magnetic resonance imaging alterations on EF in 2-year-old children at high familial likelihood (HL) and low familial likelihood (LL) of autism, based on having an older sibling with autism or no family history of autism in first-degree relatives. Design, Setting, and Participants This prospective cohort study assessed 165 toddlers at HL (n = 110) and LL (n = 55) of autism at 4 university-based research centers. Data were collected from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2013, and analyzed between August 2021 and June 2022 as part of the Infant Brain Imaging Study. Main Outcomes and Measures Direct assessments of EF and acquired structural magnetic resonance imaging were performed to determine frontal lobe, parietal lobe, and total cerebral brain volume. Results A total of 165 toddlers (mean [SD] age, 24.61 [0.95] months; 90 [54%] male, 137 [83%] White) at HL for autism (n = 110; 17 diagnosed with ASD) and LL for autism (n = 55) were studied. The toddlers at HL for autism scored lower than the toddlers at LL for autism on EF tests regardless of sex (mean [SE] B = -8.77 [4.21]; 95% CI, -17.09 to -0.45; η2p = 0.03). With the exclusion of toddlers with autism, no group (HL vs LL) difference in EF was found in boys (mean [SE] difference, -7.18 [4.26]; 95% CI, 1.24-15.59), but EF was lower in HL girls than LL girls (mean [SE] difference, -9.75 [4.34]; 95% CI, -18.32 to -1.18). Brain-behavior associations were examined, controlling for overall cerebral volume and developmental level. Sex differences in EF-frontal (B [SE] = 16.51 [7.43]; 95% CI, 1.36-31.67; η2p = 0.14) and EF-parietal (B [SE] = 17.68 [6.99]; 95% CI, 3.43-31.94; η2p = 0.17) associations were found in the LL group but not the HL group (EF-frontal: B [SE] = -1.36 [3.87]; 95% CI, -9.07 to 6.35; η2p = 0.00; EF-parietal: B [SE] = -2.81 [4.09]; 95% CI, -10.96 to 5.34; η2p = 0.01). Autism likelihood group differences in EF-frontal (B [SE] = -9.93 [4.88]; 95% CI, -19.73 to -0.12; η2p = 0.08) and EF-parietal (B [SE] = -15.44 [5.18]; 95% CI, -25.86 to -5.02; η2p = 0.16) associations were found in girls not boys (EF-frontal: B [SE] = 6.51 [5.88]; 95% CI, -5.26 to 18.27; η2p = 0.02; EF-parietal: B [SE] = 4.18 [5.48]; 95% CI, -6.78 to 15.15; η2p = 0.01). Conclusions and Relevance This cohort study of toddlers at HL and LL of autism suggests that there is an association between sex and EF and that brain-behavior associations in EF may be altered in children at HL of autism. Furthermore, EF deficits may aggregate in families, particularly in girls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya St. John
- Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Washington, Seattle
- University of Washington Autism Center, University of Washington, Seattle
| | - Annette M. Estes
- Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Washington, Seattle
- University of Washington Autism Center, University of Washington, Seattle
| | - Heather C. Hazlett
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, Carrboro, North Carolina
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill
| | - Natasha Marrus
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, Missouri
| | | | - Kevin Donovan
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Santiago Torres Gomez
- McGill Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Rebecca L. Grzadzinski
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, Carrboro, North Carolina
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill
| | - Julia Parish-Morris
- Center for Autism Research, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia
| | - Rachel Smith
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, Carrboro, North Carolina
| | - Martin Styner
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, Carrboro, North Carolina
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill
| | - Dea Garic
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, Carrboro, North Carolina
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill
| | - Juhi Pandey
- Center for Autism Research, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia
| | - Chimei M. Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
| | - Robert T. Schultz
- Center for Autism Research, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia
| | - Kelly N. Botteron
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, Missouri
| | - Lonnie Zwaigenbaum
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Joseph Piven
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, Carrboro, North Carolina
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill
| | - Stephen R. Dager
- Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle
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Autism traits and real-world executive functioning in parents of children with disabilities and undergraduates. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-04097-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Cruz S, Cruz R, Alcón A, Sampaio A, Merchan-Naranjo J, Rodríguez E, Parellada M, Carracedo Á, Fernández-Prieto M. How Executive Functions Correlate with Intelligence in Children and Adolescents in Autism Spectrum Disorders. JOURNAL OF COGNITION AND DEVELOPMENT 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/15248372.2022.2104283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sara Cruz
- The Psychology for Positive Development Research Cente], Lusíada University Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Raquel Cruz
- Centro Nacional de Genotipado (CEGEN), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Centre for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago (IDIS), 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Centro Singular de Investigacion en Medicina Molecular y Enfermedades Crónicas (CIMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Alicia Alcón
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense, IiSGM, CIBERSAM, Madrid, Spain
| | - Adriana Sampaio
- Psychological Neuroscience Laboratory, Research Center in Psychology (CIPsi), School of Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Jessica Merchan-Naranjo
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense, IiSGM, CIBERSAM, Madrid, Spain
- Network Centre for Biomedical Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Elisa Rodríguez
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense, IiSGM, CIBERSAM, Madrid, Spain
- Experimental Psychology Department, School of Psychology, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mara Parellada
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense, IiSGM, CIBERSAM, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ángel Carracedo
- Fundación Pública Galega de Medicina Xenómica - IDIS, SERGAS, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Grupo de Medicina Xenómica, CIMUS, CIBERER, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Montse Fernández-Prieto
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Group, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Fundación Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela (FIDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Grupo de Medicina Xenómica, U-711, Centro de Investigación en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Grupo de Gené tica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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Powell K, Macari S, Brennan-Wydra E, Feiner H, Butler M, Goncalves Fortes D, Boxberger A, Torres-Viso M, Morgan C, Lyons M, Chawarska K. Elevated symptoms of executive dysfunction predict lower adaptive functioning in 3-year-olds with autism spectrum disorder. Autism Res 2022; 15:1336-1347. [PMID: 35388596 PMCID: PMC9253075 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Executive functioning (EF) deficits co-occur frequently with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and have a long-term detrimental impact on quality of life of children and their families. Timely identification of risk for EF vulnerabilities may hasten access to early intervention and alleviate their long-term consequences. This study examines (1) if EF deficits are elevated in toddlers with ASD compared to nonautistic siblings of children with ASD, typically developing (TYP) toddlers, and toddlers with atypical developmental presentation; and (2) if EF deficits have a detrimental effect on adaptive functioning in ASD. Participants were recruited between September 2014 and October 2019 and included 73 toddlers with ASD, 33 nonautistic siblings of children with ASD, 35 toddlers with atypical development, and 28 TYP toddlers matched on chronological age (M = 39.01 months, SD = 3.11). EF deficits were measured using the BRIEF-P; adaptive skills were measured using the VABS-II. Whenever appropriate, analyses were controlled for MSEL verbal and nonverbal developmental quotient, ADOS-2 autism severity scores, and sex. Analyses revealed that toddlers with ASD exhibited elevated BRIEF-P scores across all domains compared to each of the three comparison groups. Higher BRIEF-P scores were associated with lower adaptive social, communication, and daily living skills while controlling for symptom severity, verbal and nonverbal functioning, and sex. In conclusion, marked vulnerabilities in EF are already present in 3-year-old toddlers with ASD and are predictive of the level of adaptive functioning in ASD. EF vulnerabilities in toddlers should be targeted for intervention to improve long-term outcomes in ASD. LAY SUMMARY: Many children with autism experience vulnerabilities in executive functioning (EF), which may include challenges with inhibition, working memory, cognitive flexibility, and planning. The study shows that these vulnerabilities can already be detected at age three and that their presence is linked with lower social, communication, and daily living skills. Screening children with ASD for EF challenges and helping those who have difficulties may improve their long-term outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Powell
- Yale University School of Medicine, Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Suzanne Macari
- Yale University School of Medicine, Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Emma Brennan-Wydra
- Yale University School of Medicine, Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Hannah Feiner
- Yale University School of Medicine, Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Maureen Butler
- Yale University School of Medicine, Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Diogo Goncalves Fortes
- Yale University School of Medicine, Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Alexandra Boxberger
- Yale University School of Medicine, Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Mariana Torres-Viso
- Yale University School of Medicine, Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Chelsea Morgan
- Yale University School of Medicine, Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Megan Lyons
- Yale University School of Medicine, Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Katarzyna Chawarska
- Yale University School of Medicine, Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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11
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Executive Functions in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Grade 1 and 2, vs. Neurotypical Development: A School View. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19137987. [PMID: 35805641 PMCID: PMC9265427 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19137987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Background: Autism spectrum disorders are neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by deficits in social and communication functioning. Previous studies suggest that people with autism spectrum disorders have deficits in executive functions, having found a relationship with cognitive flexibility, planning, working memory, inhibition or self-control, but it is especially with respect to cognitive flexibility where the greatest dysfunctions have been found. The objective of this research was to compare the executive functioning of a group of children and adolescents diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders with another with neurotypical development in an educational context. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive and multicenter confirmatory study in which 121 people who participated acted as informants, with 70 of them being education professionals who work with people with autism spectrum disorders grade 1 and 2 and 51 of them being teachers who work with people of neurotypical development; these individuals were selected through non-probabilistic sampling. Results: People diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders obtained significantly higher scores on the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-2 scale for the nine clinical scales and the four indexes that compose it compared to the group of people with neurotypical development; in addition, the average scores obtained are clinically significant, with them being elevated for the group with autism spectrum disorders. This study confirms that children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders experience greater difficulties with respect to their executive functions than children with neurotypical development.
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12
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Gentil-Gutiérrez A, Santamaría-Peláez M, Mínguez-Mínguez LA, Fernández-Solana J, González-Bernal JJ, González-Santos J, Obregón-Cuesta AI. Executive Functions in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Family and School Environment. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19137834. [PMID: 35805490 PMCID: PMC9265688 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19137834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by the presence of difficulties in communication and social interaction, often associated with deficits in executive functions (EF). The EF correct development is related to a more effective functioning in all its daily activities, while being associated with more efficient social relations. The objective of this research is to analyze the level of development of EF in children and adolescents with ASD in school and at home. This is a descriptive, cross-sectional, and multicenter study with 102 participants selected by non-probabilistic sampling, 32 parents of children with ASD, and 70 professionals in the field of education of students with ASD. The study confirms that although children and adolescents with ASD have problems in executive functioning, the perception of informants, parents, and education professionals is similar but not the same in the different contexts: school and home.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Gentil-Gutiérrez
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Burgos, 09001 Burgos, Spain; (A.G.-G.); (J.F.-S.); (J.J.G.-B.); (J.G.-S.)
| | - Mirian Santamaría-Peláez
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Burgos, 09001 Burgos, Spain; (A.G.-G.); (J.F.-S.); (J.J.G.-B.); (J.G.-S.)
- Correspondence: (M.S.-P.); (L.A.M.-M.)
| | - Luis A. Mínguez-Mínguez
- Department of Educational Sciences, University of Burgos, 09001 Burgos, Spain
- Correspondence: (M.S.-P.); (L.A.M.-M.)
| | - Jessica Fernández-Solana
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Burgos, 09001 Burgos, Spain; (A.G.-G.); (J.F.-S.); (J.J.G.-B.); (J.G.-S.)
| | - Jerónimo J. González-Bernal
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Burgos, 09001 Burgos, Spain; (A.G.-G.); (J.F.-S.); (J.J.G.-B.); (J.G.-S.)
| | - Josefa González-Santos
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Burgos, 09001 Burgos, Spain; (A.G.-G.); (J.F.-S.); (J.J.G.-B.); (J.G.-S.)
| | - Ana I. Obregón-Cuesta
- Department of Mathematics and Computation, University of Burgos, 09001 Burgos, Spain;
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13
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Alateyat H, Cruz S, Cernadas E, Tubío-Fungueiriño M, Sampaio A, González-Villar A, Carracedo A, Fernández-Delgado M, Fernández-Prieto M. A Machine Learning Approach in Autism Spectrum Disorders: From Sensory Processing to Behavior Problems. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:889641. [PMID: 35615066 PMCID: PMC9126208 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.889641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Atypical sensory processing described in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) frequently cascade into behavioral alterations: isolation, aggression, indifference, anxious/depressed states, or attention problems. Predictive machine learning models might refine the statistical explorations of the associations between them by finding out how these dimensions are related. This study investigates whether behavior problems can be predicted using sensory processing abilities. Participants were 72 children and adolescents (21 females) diagnosed with ASD, aged between 6 and 14 years (M = 7.83 years; SD = 2.80 years). Parents of the participants were invited to answer the Sensory Profile 2 (SP2) and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) questionnaires. A collection of 26 supervised machine learning regression models of different families was developed to predict the CBCL outcomes using the SP2 scores. The most reliable predictions were for the following outcomes: total problems (using the items in the SP2 touch scale as inputs), anxiety/depression (using avoiding quadrant), social problems (registration), and externalizing scales, revealing interesting relations between CBCL outcomes and SP2 scales. The prediction reliability on the remaining outcomes was “moderate to good” except somatic complaints and rule-breaking, where it was “bad to moderate.” Linear and ridge regression achieved the best prediction for a single outcome and globally, respectively, and gradient boosting machine achieved the best prediction in three outcomes. Results highlight the utility of several machine learning models in studying the predictive value of sensory processing impairments (with an early onset) on specific behavior alterations, providing evidences of relationship between sensory processing impairments and behavior problems in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heba Alateyat
- Centro Singular de Investigación en Tecnoloxías Intelixentes da USC (CiTIUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Sara Cruz
- The Psychology for Positive Development Research Center, Lusíada University—North, Porto, Portugal
| | - Eva Cernadas
- Centro Singular de Investigación en Tecnoloxías Intelixentes da USC (CiTIUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - María Tubío-Fungueiriño
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Group, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Grupo de Medicina Xenómica, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Fundación Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela (FIDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Adriana Sampaio
- Psychological Neuroscience Lab, Centro de Investigação em Psicologia, School of Psychology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal
| | - Alberto González-Villar
- Psychological Neuroscience Lab, Centro de Investigação em Psicologia, School of Psychology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal
| | - Angel Carracedo
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Group, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Fundación Pública Galega de Medicina Xenómica, Servicio Galego de Saúde (SERGAS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Grupo de Medicina Xenómica, U-711, Centro de Investigación en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Grupo de Genética, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Manuel Fernández-Delgado
- Centro Singular de Investigación en Tecnoloxías Intelixentes da USC (CiTIUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- *Correspondence: Manuel Fernández-Delgado
| | - Montse Fernández-Prieto
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Group, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Fundación Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela (FIDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Grupo de Medicina Xenómica, U-711, Centro de Investigación en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Grupo de Genética, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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14
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Ameis SH, Haltigan JD, Lyon RE, Sawyer A, Mirenda P, Kerns CM, Smith IM, Vaillancourt T, Volden J, Waddell C, Zwaigenbaum L, Bennett T, Duku E, Elsabbagh M, Georgiades S, Ungar WJ, Zaidman‐Zait A, Lai M, Szatmari P. Middle-childhood executive functioning mediates associations between early-childhood autism symptoms and adolescent mental health, academic and functional outcomes in autistic children. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2022; 63:553-562. [PMID: 34382216 PMCID: PMC9291328 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Executive functioning (EF) varies in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and is associated with clinical symptoms, academic, and adaptive functioning. Here, we examined whether middle-childhood EF mediates associations between early-childhood autism symptoms and adolescent outcomes in children with ASD. METHODS The Pathways in ASD Cohort comprising children recruited at the time of ASD diagnosis (at 2-4 years-of-age) and followed prospectively across eight subsequent timepoints over ~10 years was used. A subset of Pathways participants (n = 250) with Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF)-Parent Form data from at least one timepoint when participants were school-aged was analyzed. A mediation framework was used to examine whether BRIEF-measured EF across age 7-10 years (middle-childhood) mediated associations between early-childhood autism symptoms (measured using the parent-report Social Responsiveness Scale across age 2-6 years) and clinical, academic, and functional outcomes, indexed at age >10-11.8 years (early-adolescence) using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL)-Internalizing and Externalizing Scales, Academic Performance from the Teacher's Report Form, and Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales. Models were rerun substituting clinician-rated and teacher-rated measures, where possible. RESULTS Mediation models indicated a significant indirect effect of middle-childhood EF on associations between early-childhood autism symptoms and externalizing behavior, academic performance, or adaptive functioning in early adolescence; kappa squared (κ2 ) effect sizes ranged from large to small. Model findings were stable across raters. Middle-childhood EF did not mediate associations between early-childhood autism symptoms and adolescent internalizing behavior. CONCLUSIONS Among children with an ASD diagnosis, middle-childhood EF may be one pathway through which early-childhood autism symptoms influence a variety of outcomes in early-adolescence. An experimental study targeting middle-childhood EF to improve adolescent academic, emotional/behavioral, and adaptive functioning is needed to evaluate the clinical meaningfulness of these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie H. Ameis
- Cundill Centre for Child and Youth DepressionMargaret and Wallace McCain Centre for Child, Youth & Family Mental HealthCampbell Family Mental Health Research InstituteCentre for Addiction and Mental HealthTorontoONCanada,Faculty of Medicine, Department of PsychiatryUniversity of TorontoTorontoONCanada,Department of PsychiatryThe Hospital for Sick ChildrenTorontoONCanada
| | - John D. Haltigan
- Cundill Centre for Child and Youth DepressionMargaret and Wallace McCain Centre for Child, Youth & Family Mental HealthCampbell Family Mental Health Research InstituteCentre for Addiction and Mental HealthTorontoONCanada,Faculty of Medicine, Department of PsychiatryUniversity of TorontoTorontoONCanada,Department of Applied Psychology and Human DevelopmentUniversity of TorontoTorontoONCanada
| | - Rachael E. Lyon
- Cundill Centre for Child and Youth DepressionMargaret and Wallace McCain Centre for Child, Youth & Family Mental HealthCampbell Family Mental Health Research InstituteCentre for Addiction and Mental HealthTorontoONCanada
| | - Amanda Sawyer
- Cundill Centre for Child and Youth DepressionMargaret and Wallace McCain Centre for Child, Youth & Family Mental HealthCampbell Family Mental Health Research InstituteCentre for Addiction and Mental HealthTorontoONCanada,Faculty of Medicine, Department of PsychiatryUniversity of TorontoTorontoONCanada
| | - Pat Mirenda
- Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology and Special EducationUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBCCanada
| | - Connor M. Kerns
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBCCanada
| | - Isabel M. Smith
- Department of PediatricsDalhousie UniversityHalifaxNSCanada,Autism Research CentreDalhousie University and IWK Health CentreHalifaxNSCanada
| | | | - Joanne Volden
- Faculty of Rehabilitation MedicineUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonABCanada
| | - Charlotte Waddell
- Children's Health Policy CentreFaculty of Health SciencesSimon Fraser UniversityVancouverBCCanada
| | - Lonnie Zwaigenbaum
- Department of PediatricsUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonABCanada,Autism Research CentreEdmontonABCanada
| | - Teresa Bennett
- Offord Centre for Child StudiesHamiltonONCanada,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural NeurosciencesMcMaster UniversityHamiltonONCanada
| | - Eric Duku
- Offord Centre for Child StudiesHamiltonONCanada,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural NeurosciencesMcMaster UniversityHamiltonONCanada
| | - Mayada Elsabbagh
- Montreal Neurological InstituteMcGill UniversityMontrealQCCanada
| | - Stelios Georgiades
- Offord Centre for Child StudiesHamiltonONCanada,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural NeurosciencesMcMaster UniversityHamiltonONCanada
| | - Wendy J. Ungar
- Child Health Evaluative SciencesThe Hospital for Sick Children Research InstituteTorontoONCanada,Institute of Health Policy, Management and EvaluationUniversity of TorontoTorontoONCanada
| | - Anat Zaidman‐Zait
- Department of School Counseling and Special EducationConstantiner School of EducationTel Aviv UniversityTel AvivIsrael,School of Population and Public HealthFaculty of MedicineUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBCCanada
| | - Meng‐Chuan Lai
- Cundill Centre for Child and Youth DepressionMargaret and Wallace McCain Centre for Child, Youth & Family Mental HealthCampbell Family Mental Health Research InstituteCentre for Addiction and Mental HealthTorontoONCanada,Faculty of Medicine, Department of PsychiatryUniversity of TorontoTorontoONCanada,Department of PsychiatryThe Hospital for Sick ChildrenTorontoONCanada
| | - Peter Szatmari
- Cundill Centre for Child and Youth DepressionMargaret and Wallace McCain Centre for Child, Youth & Family Mental HealthCampbell Family Mental Health Research InstituteCentre for Addiction and Mental HealthTorontoONCanada,Faculty of Medicine, Department of PsychiatryUniversity of TorontoTorontoONCanada,Department of PsychiatryThe Hospital for Sick ChildrenTorontoONCanada
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15
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Real-World Executive Functioning and Subclinical Autism Traits in Autism Parents, Other Disability Parents, and Non-Clinical Undergraduates. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-02740-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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16
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Cheng X, Li Y, Cui X, Cheng H, Li C, Fu L, Jiang J, Hu Z, Ke X. Atypical Neural Responses of Cognitive Flexibility in Parents of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Neurosci 2022; 15:747273. [PMID: 34975368 PMCID: PMC8719598 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.747273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Impaired cognitive flexibility has been repeatedly demonstrated in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). There is strong evidence for genetic involvement in ASD. First-degree relatives of individuals with ASD may show mild deficits in cognitive inflexibility. The present study investigated cognitive flexibility and its neuroelectrophysiological mechanisms in first-degree relatives of individuals with ASD to assess its potential familiality. Forty-five biological parents of individuals/children with ASD (pASD) and thirty-one biological parents of typically developing individuals/children (pTD), matched by gender, age, and IQ, were enrolled. The broad autism phenotype questionnaire (BAPQ) and cognitive flexibility inventory (CFI) were used to quantitatively assess autistic traits and cognitive flexibility in daily life, respectively. The task-switching paradigm was used to evaluate the behavioral flexibility in a structured assessment situation. Event-related potentials (ERPs) induced by this paradigm were also collected. Results showed that compared with the pTD group, the pASD group had lower CFI scores (t = −2.756, p < 0.01), while both groups showed an equivalent “switch cost” in the task-switching task (p > 0.05). Compared with the pTD group, the pASD group induced greater N2 amplitude at F3, F4, Fz, and C4 (F = 3.223, p < 0.05), while P3 amplitude and latency did not differ between the two groups. In addition, there was a significant negative correlation between the CFI total scores and BAPQ total scores in the pASD group (r = −0.734, p < 0.01). After controlling for age and IQ, the N2 amplitude in the frontal lobe of pASD was negatively correlated with the CFI total scores under the repetition sequence (r = −0.304, p = 0.053). These results indicated that pASD had deficit in cognitive flexibility at the self-reported and neurological levels. The cognitive flexibility difficulties of parents of children with ASD were related to autistic traits. These findings support that cognitive flexibility is most likely a neurocognitive endophenotype of ASD, which is worthy of further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Cheng
- The Child Mental Health Research Center, Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Department of Child Psychiatry, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo, China
| | - Yu Li
- The Child Mental Health Research Center, Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiwen Cui
- The Child Mental Health Research Center, Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hong Cheng
- Physical Diagnostic Department, Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chunyan Li
- The Child Mental Health Research Center, Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Linyan Fu
- The Child Mental Health Research Center, Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jiying Jiang
- The Child Mental Health Research Center, Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhenyu Hu
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo, China
| | - Xiaoyan Ke
- The Child Mental Health Research Center, Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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17
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Seng GJ, Tseng WL, Chiu YN, Tsai WC, Wu YY, Gau SSF. Executive functions in youths with autism spectrum disorder and their unaffected siblings. Psychol Med 2021; 51:2571-2580. [PMID: 32349803 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291720001075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Executive dysfunction is one of the main cognitive theories of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Despite evidence of deficits in executive functions in individuals with ASD, little is known about executive dysfunctions as candidate cognitive endophenotypes for ASD. In this study, we investigated executive functions in youths with ASD, their unaffected siblings and typically developing controls (TDC). METHODS We recruited 240 youths with a clinical diagnosis of ASD (aged 6-18 years), 147 unaffected siblings of ASD youths, and 240 TDC youths. TDC youths were recruited based on the age and sex distribution of the ASD youths. Participants were assessed using the verbal Digit Span test and four executive function tasks from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery, including Intra-dimensional/Extra-dimensional Shift (I/ED), Spatial Span (SSP), Spatial Working Memory (SWM), and Stocking of Cambridge (SoC). RESULTS ASD youths, relative to TDC, performed significantly worse in executive function tasks assessing verbal working memory (forward and backward digit span), set-shifting (I/ED), visuospatial working memory (SSP, SWM), and planning/problem solving (SoC). Furthermore, unaffected siblings, relative to TDC, performed worse in forward and backward digit recalls and made more errors in SWM. These results were independent of the effects of age, sex, IQ, and symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. CONCLUSIONS Our findings support impaired executive functions in youths with ASD. However, unaffected siblings were mostly unimpaired except in the areas of verbal and spatial working memory, which may be potential cognitive endophenotypes for ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guan-Jye Seng
- Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital & College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Brain and Mind Sciences, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wan-Ling Tseng
- Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Yen-Nan Chiu
- Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital & College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Che Tsai
- Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital & College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Yu Wu
- Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Susan Shur-Fen Gau
- Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital & College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Brain and Mind Sciences, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Psychology, Graduate Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
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18
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Barry L, Holloway J, Gallagher S, McMahon J. Teacher Characteristics, Knowledge and Use of Evidence-Based Practices in Autism Education in Ireland. J Autism Dev Disord 2021; 52:3536-3546. [PMID: 34405309 PMCID: PMC9296378 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-05223-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Autism evidence-based practices (EBPs) are those with demonstrated improved outcomes for students with autism across a range of skill areas, yet issues persist in adopting these in classroom settings- particularly in general education (GE) settings. This research aimed to identify teacher training, years of experience, access to allied professionals and knowledge and use of autism EBPs in GE settings in Ireland. 369 mainstream primary school teachers reported their characteristics and their knowledge and use of EBPs. Results indicated that the majority of teachers received little initial teacher education training in autism, almost no continuous professional development (CPD) before educating a child with autism, and received little support from allied professionals. Knowledge and use of EBPs differed significantly across teacher characteristics, with findings discussed in relation to teacher training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorna Barry
- i-TEACH Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
| | - Jennifer Holloway
- School of Psychology, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Stephen Gallagher
- Department of Psychology, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Jennifer McMahon
- i-TEACH Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
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19
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Fernandez-Prieto M, Moreira C, Cruz S, Campos V, Martínez-Regueiro R, Taboada M, Carracedo A, Sampaio A. Executive Functioning: A Mediator Between Sensory Processing and Behaviour in Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 2021; 51:2091-2103. [PMID: 32915356 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-020-04648-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in social interaction, executive functioning, sensory-perceptual abilities and behaviour, such as anxious/depressed states, attention problems, aggression, or somatic complains. However, the dynamic relationship between these dimensions remains to be addressed. Therefore, we explored the link between executive functions, sensory processing and behaviour in 79 children and adolescents with ASD. Results showed significant associations between all dimensions-executive functions, sensory processing and behaviour. Furthermore, using structural equation modelling methods, we observed a mediation effect of executive functioning, specifically the domain pertaining to emotion regulation and control, and in the relationship between sensory processing abnormalities and behavioural problems. We discuss the importance of emotion regulation as a mediator between sensory processing and behavioural impairments and its impact in social competence in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Montse Fernandez-Prieto
- Grupo de Medicina Xenómica, Centro de Investigación en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Fundación Pública Galega de Medicina Xenómica-SERGAS, Santiago de Compostela, Spain. .,Genomics and Bioinformatics, CiMUS, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| | - Célia Moreira
- Department of Mathematics and Centre of Mathematics, University of Porto (FCUP & CMUP), Porto, Portugal
| | - Sara Cruz
- Psychology for Positive Development Research Center, Universidade Lusíada - Norte, Porto, Portugal
| | - Vânia Campos
- Psychological Neuroscience Laboratory, Psychology Research Center (CIPsi), School of Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Rocío Martínez-Regueiro
- Genomics and Bioinformatics, CiMUS, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Maria Taboada
- Applied Artificial Intelligence Lab, Deparment of Electronics and Computer Science, ETSE, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Angel Carracedo
- Grupo de Medicina Xenómica, Centro de Investigación en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Fundación Pública Galega de Medicina Xenómica-SERGAS, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.,Genomics and Bioinformatics, CiMUS, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Adriana Sampaio
- Psychological Neuroscience Laboratory, Psychology Research Center (CIPsi), School of Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
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20
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Zhao H, Amat AZ, Migovich M, Swanson A, Weitlauf AS, Warren Z, Sarkar N. C-Hg. ACM TRANSACTIONS ON ACCESSIBLE COMPUTING 2021. [DOI: 10.1145/3459608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Computer-assisted systems can provide efficient and engaging ASD intervention environments for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). However, most existing computer-assisted systems target only one skill deficit (e.g., social conversation skills) and ignore the importance of other areas, such as motor skills, that could also impact social interaction. This focus on a single domain may hinder the generalizability of learned skills to real-world scenarios, because the targeted teaching strategies do not reflect that real-world tasks often involve more than one skill domain. The work presented in this article seeks to bridge this gap by developing a Collaborative Haptic-gripper virtual skill training system (C-Hg). This system includes individual and collaborative games that provide opportunities for simultaneously practicing both fine motor skills (hand movement and grip control skills) as well as social skills (communication and collaboration) and investigating how they relate to each other. We conducted a usability study with 10 children with ASD and 10 Typically Developing (TD) children (8–12 years), who used C-Hg to play a series of individual and collaborative games requiring differing levels of motor and communication skill. Results revealed that participant performance significantly improved in both individual and collaborative fine motor skill training tasks, including significant improvements in collaborative manipulations between partners. Participants with ASD were found to conduct more collaborative manipulations and initiate more conversations with their partners in the post collaborative tasks, suggesting more active collaboration and communication of participants with ASD in the collaborative tasks. Results support the potential of our C-Hg system for simultaneously improving fine motor and social skills, with implications for impacts of improved fine motor skills on social outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Zhao
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
| | - Ashwaq Zaini Amat
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
| | - Miroslava Migovich
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
| | - Amy Swanson
- Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Amy S. Weitlauf
- Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Zachary Warren
- Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Nilanjan Sarkar
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
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21
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Brief Report: An Exploration of Cognitive Flexibility of Autistic Adolescents with Low Intelligence Using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task. J Autism Dev Disord 2021; 53:1726-1732. [PMID: 34114127 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-05134-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/06/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive flexibility (CF) is the ability to shift between concepts or rules. Difficulty with CF is associated with autism (i.e., ASD) as it contributes to repetitive behaviours. However, little is known about CF skills of autistic adolescents with low intelligence. This study uses the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task (WCST) to assess the CF of 36 adolescents, all with a Weschler full-scale IQ between 50 and 85, 14 of whom had an ASD diagnosis. The results indicated no statistically significant differences in WCST performance between those with and without ASD. It was also found that performance IQ significantly contributed to the WCST performance in the ASD group only, suggesting an autism-specific role of non-verbal cognitive functioning in CF.
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22
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Sarovic D. A Unifying Theory for Autism: The Pathogenetic Triad as a Theoretical Framework. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:767075. [PMID: 34867553 PMCID: PMC8637925 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.767075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper presents a unifying theory for autism by applying the framework of a pathogenetic triad to the scientific literature. It proposes a deconstruction of autism into three contributing features (an autistic personality dimension, cognitive compensation, and neuropathological risk factors), and delineates how they interact to cause a maladaptive behavioral phenotype that may require a clinical diagnosis. The autistic personality represents a common core condition, which induces a set of behavioral issues when pronounced. These issues are compensated for by cognitive mechanisms, allowing the individual to remain adaptive and functional. Risk factors, both exogenous and endogenous ones, show pathophysiological convergence through their negative effects on neurodevelopment. This secondarily affects cognitive compensation, which disinhibits a maladaptive behavioral phenotype. The triad is operationalized and methods for quantification are presented. With respect to the breadth of findings in the literature that it can incorporate, it is the most comprehensive model yet for autism. Its main implications are that (1) it presents the broader autism phenotype as a non-pathological core personality domain, which is shared across the population and uncoupled from associated features such as low cognitive ability and immune dysfunction, (2) it proposes that common genetic variants underly the personality domain, and that rare variants act as risk factors through negative effects on neurodevelopment, (3) it outlines a common pathophysiological mechanism, through inhibition of neurodevelopment and cognitive dysfunction, by which a wide range of endogenous and exogenous risk factors lead to autism, and (4) it suggests that contributing risk factors, and findings of immune and autonomic dysfunction are clinically ascertained rather than part of the core autism construct.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darko Sarovic
- Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Department of Radiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.,MedTech West, Gothenburg, Sweden
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23
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Wisner-Carlson R, Uram S, Flis T. The Transition to Adulthood for Young People with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Psychiatr Clin North Am 2020; 43:673-686. [PMID: 33127001 DOI: 10.1016/j.psc.2020.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The transition to adulthood for individuals with autism spectrum disorder is difficult and outcomes are suboptimal. Social cognition deficits and executive dysfunction continue to be barriers to young people's success, lack of societal acceptance and loss of previous support can exacerbate the condition, and mental health issues increase. All areas of adult functioning are affected. To help manage the transition and improve outcomes for this population, psychiatrists and other health care providers need to be aware of the issues and possible interventions, including social skills training, educational transition programs, and supported employment programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Wisner-Carlson
- Neuropsychiatry Outpatient Program, Adult Developmental Neuropsychiatry Clinic, Adult Inpatient Intellectual Disability and Autism Unit, Sheppard Pratt Autism Registry, Ethics Committee, Sheppard Pratt Health System, 6501 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21204, USA.
| | - Sara Uram
- Adult Developmental Neuropsychiatry Clinic, Sheppard Pratt Health System, 6501 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21204, USA
| | - Thomas Flis
- Sheppard Pratt Health System, 6501 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21204, USA
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24
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Brief Report: Associations Between Cognitive Control Processes and Traits of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Anxiety in Children at Elevated and Typical Familial Likelihood for ASD. J Autism Dev Disord 2020; 51:3001-3013. [PMID: 33057859 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-020-04732-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Shared difficulties with cognitive control may play a role in co-occurring mental health problems frequently observed in autistic children. We investigated how different cognitive control processes (inhibitory control, conflict resolution, cognitive flexibility) associated with traits of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and anxiety in 7-year-old children at elevated (n = 44) and typical (n = 37) familial likelihood for ASD. Poor inhibitory control was associated with higher ADHD traits. Better inhibitory control and poorer cognitive flexibility predicted higher anxiety traits. Cognitive control processes were not associated dimensionally with autistic traits, though better conflict resolution predicted greater likelihood of meeting diagnostic criteria for ASD in categorical analysis. These findings suggest that different cognitive control alterations are associated with ASD, ADHD and anxiety.
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25
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Gernsbacher MA, Stevenson JL, Dern S. Autistic People Do Enhance Their Selves. SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PERSONALITY SCIENCE 2020; 11:605-615. [PMID: 32577160 DOI: 10.1177/1948550619865057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
We investigated whether autistic people are less prone to self-enhance (i.e., portray themselves in socially desirable ways). Autistic (N = 130) and non-autistic (N = 130) participants first responded to social desirability items using the standard instruction to endorse each item as true or false about themselves. Then, all participants read an explanation of what social desirability items measure before responding again to the social desirability items. Self-enhancement was operationalized as participants endorsing more social desirability items before learning the explanation than after. All participants endorsed significantly more social desirability items before learning the explanation than after, F subjects(1,258) = 57.73, p < .001, η2 p = .183; F items(1,34) = 43.04, p < .001, η2 p = .559). However, autistic and non-autistic participants did not significantly differ in how many items they endorsed, either before or after reading the explanation, indicating that autistic people are as susceptible to social desirability and self-enhancement as non-autistic people are. Our results challenge the claim that autistic people are immune to reputation management.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sebastian Dern
- Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
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26
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Wisner-Carlson R, Uram S, Flis T. The Transition to Adulthood for Young People with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am 2020; 29:345-358. [PMID: 32169266 DOI: 10.1016/j.chc.2019.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The transition to adulthood for individuals with autism spectrum disorder is difficult and outcomes are suboptimal. Social cognition deficits and executive dysfunction continue to be barriers to young people's success, lack of societal acceptance and loss of previous support can exacerbate the condition, and mental health issues increase. All areas of adult functioning are affected. To help manage the transition and improve outcomes for this population, psychiatrists and other health care providers need to be aware of the issues and possible interventions, including social skills training, educational transition programs, and supported employment programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Wisner-Carlson
- Neuropsychiatry Outpatient Program, Adult Developmental Neuropsychiatry Clinic, Adult Inpatient Intellectual Disability and Autism Unit, Sheppard Pratt Autism Registry, Ethics Committee, Sheppard Pratt Health System, 6501 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21204, USA.
| | - Sara Uram
- Adult Developmental Neuropsychiatry Clinic, Sheppard Pratt Health System, 6501 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21204, USA
| | - Thomas Flis
- Sheppard Pratt Health System, 6501 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21204, USA
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27
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Abstract
Cognitive and behavioral flexibility are important predictors of adaptive behavior in school-age autistic youth. While prior research has utilized broad measures of flexibility, the current study uses the multi-dimensional Flexibility Scale-Revised to examine which specific flexibility skills relate to adaptive functioning. Through parent-report measures on 216 autistic youth, flexibility explained 22.2% of variance in adaptive socialization skills (p < 0.001). Specifically, Social Flexibility accounted for significant variance in adaptive socialization skills, while Transitions/Change approached significance. In exploratory analyses, flexibility explained 11.5% of variance in Communication skills (p < 0.001). This pattern remained after controlling for co-occurring ADHD symptoms. The current study helps to refine the relationship between flexibility and adaptive behavior, which may ultimately help to inform more targeted interventions.
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28
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Ratto AB, Potvin D, Pallathra AA, Saldana L, Kenworthy L. Parents report fewer executive functioning problems and repetitive behaviors in young dual-language speakers with autism. Child Neuropsychol 2020; 26:917-933. [PMID: 32157943 DOI: 10.1080/09297049.2020.1733512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
More dual language learners (DLLs) are being identified early with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, many families are still being advised against dual language exposure, despite a lack of evidence of negative impacts on language development in ASD. Research in typically developing children has noted advantages for bilinguals in domains such as executive functioning and social skills, but less is known about the effects in ASD. The present study evaluated differences in executive functioning and social communication in young children (n = 55) with ASD. Dual-language learners with ASD had significantly fewer parent reported executive functioning problems and repetitive behaviors; parent-reported social communication skills were generally comparable across groups. Our findings indicate that the bilingual advantage in executive functioning may extend to children with neurodevelopmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison B Ratto
- Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Center for Neuroscience Research, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Medical Center, The George Washington University School of Medicine , Washington, DC, USA
| | - Deborah Potvin
- Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Center for Neuroscience Research, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Medical Center, The George Washington University School of Medicine , Washington, DC, USA
| | - Ashley A Pallathra
- Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Center for Neuroscience Research, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Medical Center, The George Washington University School of Medicine , Washington, DC, USA.,Department of Psychology, The Catholic University of America , Washington, DC, USA
| | - Laura Saldana
- Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Center for Neuroscience Research, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Medical Center, The George Washington University School of Medicine , Washington, DC, USA
| | - Lauren Kenworthy
- Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Center for Neuroscience Research, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Medical Center, The George Washington University School of Medicine , Washington, DC, USA
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29
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Green CC, Brown NJ, Yap VMZ, Scheffer IE, Wilson SJ. Cognitive processes predicting advanced theory of mind in the broader autism phenotype. Autism Res 2019; 13:921-934. [PMID: 31566923 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Little is known about executive functions (EFs) associated with advanced theory of mind (ToM) abilities. We aimed to determine if advanced ToM abilities were reduced in individuals with subclinical traits of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), known as the "Broader Autism Phenotype" (BAP), and identify the EFs that predicted unimpaired performance on an advanced ToM task, the faux pas test. We assessed 29 participants (13 males) with the BAP who were relatives of children with ASD. Thirteen participants showed reduced ability to understand a faux pas. A discriminant function analysis correctly classified 79% of cases as impaired or unimpaired, with high sensitivity (80%) and specificity (77%), which was best predicted by language-mediated EFs, including verbal generativity, working memory, cognitive inhibition, and flexibility. Autism Res 2020, 13: 921-934. © 2019 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: Little is known about the complex cognitive processes that enable accurate interpretation of another person's thoughts and emotions, known as "theory of mind." In relatives of individuals with autism, who had mild traits of autism themselves, approximately half had difficulty interpreting situations involving a social faux pas. Cognitive inhibition and flexibility, working memory, and verbal generativity were related to, and appeared to be protective for, unimpaired understanding of a faux pas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cherie C Green
- Department of Medicine-Austin Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Natasha J Brown
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia.,Victorian Clinical Genetics Services, MCRI, Parkville, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Australia.,Child Health Research Unit, Barwon Health, Geelong, Australia
| | - Valerie M Z Yap
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Ingrid E Scheffer
- Department of Medicine-Austin Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Australia.,Florey Institute of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Sarah J Wilson
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.,Florey Institute of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Melbourne, Australia
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30
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Hutchison SM, Müller U, Iarocci G. Parent Reports of Executive Function Associated with Functional Communication and Conversational Skills Among School Age Children With and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 2019; 50:2019-2029. [DOI: 10.1007/s10803-019-03958-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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31
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Age-moderating effect in prepotent response inhibition in boys with Asperger syndrome: a 2.5 years longitudinal study. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2019; 269:361-364. [PMID: 29942979 PMCID: PMC6469602 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-018-0915-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Following our previous cross-sectional analysis, indicating age-related improvements of response inhibition in a random-motor-generation task (MPT) in adolescents with Asperger syndrome (AS), the present study reports data from a 2.5-year follow-up examination in the original sample. We found more marked improvements within the follow-up interval in younger AS children, while older AS boys as well as typically developing (TD) boys remained at a relatively constant level throughout. The current longitudinal study further substantiates the notion that AS children (on average) catch up with TD children when they grow older as regards the basic inhibition of developing routine response patterns.
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32
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Caselli RJ, Langlais BT, Dueck AC, Locke DE, Woodruff BK. Subjective Cognitive Impairment and the Broad Autism Phenotype. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord 2018; 32:284-290. [PMID: 30211704 PMCID: PMC6249104 DOI: 10.1097/wad.0000000000000273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Roughly 4% to 23% of the population embody stress prone personality and other traits characterizing a subclinical "broad autism phenotype" (BAP). Subjective cognitive impairment (SCI) among healthy elderly is associated with psychological distress leading us to predict BAP would be associated with SCI. METHODS The Autism Spectrum Quotient, a self-administered 50 item questionnaire, was completed by 419 consecutive members of the Arizona APOE Cohort who underwent neuropsychological testing every 2 years. SCI was assessed with self and informant versions of the Multidimensional Assessment of Neurodegenerative Symptoms (MANS) Questionnaire. RESULTS A total of 45 individuals scored in the BAP range, designated BAP+, and the rest were BAP-. At entry, both Multidimensional Assessment of Neurodegenerative Symptoms Questionnaire Self and Informant scores were higher in the BAP+ group (P<0.0001). After age 60, the BAP+ group had greater annual increases in Multidimensional Assessment of Neurodegenerative Symptoms Questionnaire Self scores (0.05 vs. 0.02; difference=0.03; 95% confidence interval, 0.004-0.05; P=0.02) yet there was no difference between groups in memory decline. Over ~10 years 33 individuals developed mild cognitive impairment: 4 in the BAP+ group (8.9%) and 29 in the BAP- group (7.8%), P=0.77. DISCUSSION Individuals who meet criteria for the BAP have escalating SCI with age, but no greater rate of memory decline or clinical progression to mild cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J. Caselli
- Departments of Neurology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, 13400 East Shea Boulevard, Scottsdale, Arizona 85259
| | - Blake T. Langlais
- Departments of Biostatistics, Mayo Clinic Arizona, 13400 East Shea Boulevard, Scottsdale, Arizona 85259
| | - Amylou C. Dueck
- Departments of Biostatistics, Mayo Clinic Arizona, 13400 East Shea Boulevard, Scottsdale, Arizona 85259
| | - Dona E.C. Locke
- Departments of Psychology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, 13400 East Shea Boulevard, Scottsdale, Arizona 85259
| | - Bryan K. Woodruff
- Departments of Neurology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, 13400 East Shea Boulevard, Scottsdale, Arizona 85259
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33
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES Studies suggest that impairments in some of the same domains of cognition occur in different neuropsychiatric conditions, including those known to share genetic liability. Yet, direct, multi-disorder cognitive comparisons are limited, and it remains unclear whether overlapping deficits are due to comorbidity. We aimed to extend the literature by examining cognition across different neuropsychiatric conditions and addressing comorbidity. METHODS Subjects were 486 youth consecutively referred for neuropsychiatric evaluation and enrolled in the Longitudinal Study of Genetic Influences on Cognition. First, we assessed general ability, reaction time variability (RTV), and aspects of executive functions (EFs) in youth with non-comorbid forms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), mood disorders and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as well as in youth with psychosis. Second, we determined the impact of comorbid ADHD on cognition in youth with ASD and mood disorders. RESULTS For EFs (working memory, inhibition, and shifting/ flexibility), we observed weaknesses in all diagnostic groups when participants' own ability was the referent. Decrements were subtle in relation to published normative data. For RTV, weaknesses emerged in youth with ADHD and mood disorders, but trend-level results could not rule out decrements in other conditions. Comorbidity with ADHD did not impact the pattern of weaknesses for youth with ASD or mood disorders but increased the magnitude of the decrement in those with mood disorders. CONCLUSIONS Youth with ADHD, mood disorders, ASD, and psychosis show EF weaknesses that are not due to comorbidity. Whether such cognitive difficulties reflect genetic liability shared among these conditions requires further study. (JINS, 2018, 24, 91-103).
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34
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Gardiner E, Iarocci G. Everyday executive function predicts adaptive and internalizing behavior among children with and without autism spectrum disorder. Autism Res 2017; 11:284-295. [PMID: 28960841 DOI: 10.1002/aur.1877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2017] [Revised: 08/03/2017] [Accepted: 09/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Emily Gardiner
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, 950 West 28th Avenue; Vancouver BC V5Z 4H4 Canada
- Department of Pediatrics; University of British Columbia, 4480 Oak Street; Vancouver BC V6H 3V4 Canada
| | - Grace Iarocci
- Department of Psychology; Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive; Burnaby BC V5A 1S6 Canada
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35
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Olde Dubbelink LME, Geurts HM. Planning Skills in Autism Spectrum Disorder Across the Lifespan: A Meta-analysis and Meta-regression. J Autism Dev Disord 2017; 47:1148-1165. [PMID: 28160225 PMCID: PMC5357294 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-016-3013-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Individuals with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are thought to encounter planning difficulties, but experimental research regarding the mastery of planning in ASD is inconsistent. By means of a meta-analysis of 50 planning studies with a combined sample size of 1755 individuals with and 1642 without ASD, we aim to determine whether planning difficulties do exist and which factors contribute to this. Planning problems were evident in individuals with ASD (Hedges'g = 0.52), even when taking publication bias into account (Hedges'g = 0.37). Neither age, nor task-type, nor IQ reduced the observed heterogeneity, suggesting that these were not crucial moderators within the current meta-analysis. However, while we showed that ASD individuals encounter planning difficulties, the bias towards publishing positive findings restricts strong conclusions regarding the role of potential moderators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda M E Olde Dubbelink
- Dr. Leo Kannerhuis, Houtsniplaan 1, 6865 XZ, Doowerth, The Netherlands.
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center (d'Arc), Department of Psychology, Division Brain & Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 129-B, 1018 WS, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Hilde M Geurts
- Dr. Leo Kannerhuis, Houtsniplaan 1, 6865 XZ, Doowerth, The Netherlands
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center (d'Arc), Department of Psychology, Division Brain & Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 129-B, 1018 WS, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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36
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Van Eylen L, Boets B, Cosemans N, Peeters H, Steyaert J, Wagemans J, Noens I. Executive functioning and local-global visual processing: candidate endophenotypes for autism spectrum disorder? J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2017; 58:258-269. [PMID: 27804132 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.12637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/19/2016] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Heterogeneity within autism spectrum disorder (ASD) hampers insight in the etiology and stimulates the search for endophenotypes. Endophenotypes should meet several criteria, the most important being the association with ASD and the higher occurrence rate in unaffected ASD relatives than in the general population. We evaluated these criteria for executive functioning (EF) and local-global (L-G) visual processing. METHODS By administering an extensive cognitive battery which increases the validity of the measures, we examined which of the cognitive anomalies shown by ASD probands also occur in their unaffected relatives (n = 113) compared to typically developing (TD) controls (n = 100). Microarrays were performed, so we could exclude relatives from probands with a de novo mutation in a known ASD susceptibility copy number variant, thus increasing the probability that genetic risk variants are shared by the ASD relatives. An overview of studies investigating EF and L-G processing in ASD relatives was also provided. RESULTS For EF, ASD relatives - like ASD probands - showed impairments in response inhibition, cognitive flexibility and generativity (specifically, ideational fluency), and EF impairments in daily life. For L-G visual processing, the ASD relatives showed no anomalies on the tasks, but they reported more attention to detail in daily life. Group differences were similar for siblings and for parents of ASD probands, and yielded larger effect sizes in a multiplex subsample. The group effect sizes for the comparison between ASD probands and TD individuals were generally larger than those of the ASD relatives compared to TD individuals. CONCLUSIONS Impaired cognitive flexibility, ideational fluency and response inhibition are strong candidate endophenotypes for ASD. They could help to delineate etiologically more homogeneous subgroups, which is clinically important to allow assigning ASD probands to different, more targeted, interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lien Van Eylen
- Parenting and Special Education Research Unit, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bart Boets
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, UPC-KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nele Cosemans
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Center for Human Genetics, University Hospital Leuven, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hilde Peeters
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Center for Human Genetics, University Hospital Leuven, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jean Steyaert
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, UPC-KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Johan Wagemans
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Brain & Cognition, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ilse Noens
- Parenting and Special Education Research Unit, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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37
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Pugliese CE, Anthony LG, Strang JF, Dudley K, Wallace GL, Naiman DQ, Kenworthy L. Longitudinal Examination of Adaptive Behavior in Autism Spectrum Disorders: Influence of Executive Function. J Autism Dev Disord 2016; 46:467-77. [PMID: 26349921 PMCID: PMC4726475 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-015-2584-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
This study characterizes longitudinal change in adaptive behavior in 64 children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) without intellectual disability evaluated on multiple occasions, and examines whether prior estimate of executive function (EF) problems predicts future adaptive behavior scores. Compared to standardized estimates for their developmental stage, adaptive behavior in most participants was impaired and did not improve over time. Prior EF predicted later adaptive behavior in daily living skills and socialization domains after controlling for age and IQ. Self-monitoring behaviors robustly predicted later adaptive behavior in all domains (d = 0.60-0.94). Results support targeting treatment of adaptive skills in ASD, as well as the importance of assessing for EF problems that may contribute to adaptive behavior difficulties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cara E Pugliese
- Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders & Children's National Research Institute, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, USA.
| | - Laura Gutermuth Anthony
- Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders & Children's National Research Institute, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, USA
| | - John F Strang
- Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders & Children's National Research Institute, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Katerina Dudley
- Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders & Children's National Research Institute, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Gregory L Wallace
- Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Daniel Q Naiman
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lauren Kenworthy
- Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders & Children's National Research Institute, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, USA
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38
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Camodeca A, Voelker S. Automatic and controlled processing and the Broad Autism Phenotype. Psychiatry Res 2016; 235:169-76. [PMID: 26652842 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2015.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2015] [Revised: 10/23/2015] [Accepted: 11/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Research related to verbal fluency in the Broad Autism Phenotype (BAP) is limited and dated, but generally suggests intact abilities in the context of weaknesses in other areas of executive function (Hughes et al., 1999; Wong et al., 2006; Delorme et al., 2007). Controlled processing, the generation of search strategies after initial, automated responses are exhausted (Spat, 2013), has yet to be investigated in the BAP, and may be evidenced in verbal fluency tasks. One hundred twenty-nine participants completed the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System Verbal Fluency test (D-KEFS; Delis et al., 2001) and the Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire (BAPQ; Hurley et al., 2007). The BAP group (n=53) produced significantly fewer total words during the 2nd 15" interval compared to the Non-BAP (n=76) group. Partial correlations indicated similar relations between verbal fluency variables for each group. Regression analyses predicting 2nd 15" interval scores suggested differentiation between controlled and automatic processing skills in both groups. Results suggest adequate automatic processing, but slowed development of controlled processing strategies in the BAP, and provide evidence for similar underlying cognitive constructs for both groups. Controlled processing was predictive of Block Design score for Non-BAP participants, and was predictive of Pragmatic Language score on the BAPQ for BAP participants. These results are similar to past research related to strengths and weaknesses in the BAP, respectively, and suggest that controlled processing strategy use may be required in instances of weak lower-level skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Camodeca
- University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, ON, Canada N9B 3P4.
| | - Sylvia Voelker
- University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, ON, Canada N9B 3P4
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39
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Merchán-Naranjo J, Boada L, del Rey-Mejías Á, Mayoral M, Llorente C, Arango C, Parellada M. Executive function is affected in autism spectrum disorder, but does not correlate with intelligence. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rpsmen.2016.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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40
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Executive function is affected in autism spectrum disorder, but does not correlate with intelligence. REVISTA DE PSIQUIATRIA Y SALUD MENTAL 2015; 9:39-50. [PMID: 26724269 DOI: 10.1016/j.rpsm.2015.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2015] [Revised: 10/14/2015] [Accepted: 10/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Studies of executive function in autism spectrum disorder without intellectual disability (ASD-WID) patients are contradictory. We assessed a wide range of executive functioning cognitive domains in a sample of children and adolescents with ASD-WID and compared them with age-, sex-, and intelligence quotient (IQ)-matched healthy controls. METHODS Twenty-four ASD-WID patients (mean age 12.8±2.5 years; 23 males; mean IQ 99.20±18.81) and 32 healthy controls (mean age 12.9±2.7 years; 30 males; mean IQ 106.81±11.02) were recruited. RESULTS Statistically significant differences were found in all cognitive domains assessed, with better performance by the healthy control group: attention (U=185.0; P=.0005; D=0.90), working memory (T51.48=2.597; P=.006; D=0.72), mental flexibility (U=236.0; P=.007; D=0.67), inhibitory control (U=210.0; P=.002; D=0.71), and problem solving (U=261.0; P=0.021; D=0.62). These statistically significant differences were also found after controlling for IQ. CONCLUSION Children and adolescents with ASD-WID have difficulties transforming and mentally manipulating verbal information, longer response latency, attention problems (difficulty set shifting), trouble with automatic response inhibition and problem solving, despite having normal IQ. Considering the low executive functioning profile found in those patients, we recommend a comprehensive intervention including work on non-social problems related to executive cognitive difficulties.
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41
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Van Eylen L, Boets B, Steyaert J, Wagemans J, Noens I. Executive functioning in autism spectrum disorders: influence of task and sample characteristics and relation to symptom severity. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2015; 24:1399-417. [PMID: 25697266 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-015-0689-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2014] [Accepted: 01/28/2015] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Impaired executive functioning (EF) has been proposed to underlie symptoms of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). However, insight in the EF profile of ASD individuals is hampered due to task impurity and inconsistent findings. To elucidate these inconsistencies, we investigated the influence of task and sample characteristics on EF in ASD, with an extended test battery designed to reduce task impurity. Additionally, we studied the relation between EF and ASD symptoms. EF (inhibition, cognitive flexibility, generativity, working memory and planning) was measured in open-ended versus structured assessment situations, while controlling for possible confounding EF and non-EF variables. The performance of 50 individuals with ASD was compared with that of 50 age, gender and IQ matched typically developing (TD) individuals. The effects of group (ASD versus TD), age (children versus adolescents) and gender were examined, as well as the correlation between age, IQ, ASD symptoms and EF. Individuals with ASD showed impairments in all EF domains, but deficits were more pronounced in open-ended compared to structured settings. Group differences did not depend on gender and only occasionally on participants' age. This suggests that inconsistencies between studies largely result from differences in task characteristics and less from differences in the investigated sample features. However, age and IQ strongly correlated with EF, indicating that group differences in these factors should be controlled for when studying EF. Finally, EF correlated with both social and non-social ASD symptoms, but further research is needed to clarify the nature of this relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lien Van Eylen
- Parenting and Special Education Research Unit, KU Leuven, Leopold Vanderkelenstraat 32, Box 3765, 3000, Leuven, Belgium. .,Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Bart Boets
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Child Psychiatry, UPC-KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jean Steyaert
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Child Psychiatry, UPC-KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Clinical Genetics, University Hospital Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Johan Wagemans
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Experimental Psychology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ilse Noens
- Parenting and Special Education Research Unit, KU Leuven, Leopold Vanderkelenstraat 32, Box 3765, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.,Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA
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