Cognitive Profile of Children with Autistic Traits

Abstract

Background Three neuropsychological theories have been extensively studied in both autism spectrum disorders and the broader autism phenotype ndash Theory of Mind Executive Function and Central Coherence. The exact profile is still under debate.Objective The objective of this study was to compare the neuropsychological profile of children with high and low levels of autistic traits. Methodology Around 771 children between the ages of 5 and 11 years from mainstream schools were assessed using the Social Responsiveness Scale SRS. Two hundred children among the 771 assessed children were administered a battery of neuropsychological tests. Further the SRS scores were subjected to factor analysis FA and the 28 items from the SRS which were common across factor analyses were taken and scores were recalculated based on these items. The neuropsychological profiles on this were further compared.Results Executive Function difficulties were apparent among the high scorers across all comparisons. Children with higher levels of autistic traits post FA had weaker central coherence. The difference in central coherence was apparent even when the comparison was made without the lower socio-economic group. While there was no significant difference in the performance on the Theory of Mind there was a trend towards significance in the group without the lower socio-economic group.Conclusion Executive function deficits are strongly associated with higher levels of autistic traits. The influence of Central Coherence is apparent only when the autistic traits are more closely woven. Theory of Mind appears to be a more downstream effect of Executive Function and Central Coherencenbsp