Executive Functions and Adaptive Behaviour in Autism Spectrum Disorders with and without Intellectual Disability.

Simonetta Panerai,Valentina Genitori D'Arrigo,Domenica Tasca,Maurizio Elia,Raffaele Ferri

doi:10.1155/2014/941809

Simonetta Panerai, Valentina Genitori D'Arrigo + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/941809

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Journal: Psychiatry Journal	Publication Date: Jan 1, 2014
Citations: 57	License type: CC BY 3.0

Affiliation: Oasi Maria SS, I.R.C.C.S. Oasi Maria SS

Abstract

Executive functions (EF) in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have been often investigated, although results seem to be rather inconsistent. The first aim of this study was to detect which EF components are common to the ASD continuum (from high- to low-functioning ASD) and identify a possible EF profile for ASD people. Planning, mental flexibility, inhibition of response, generativity, and ecologic EF were investigated. This study was extended not only to high-functioning ASD, but also to ASD with intellectual disability (ID). The second aim was to find EF aspects correlating with adaptive skills in ASD. A total of 61 children participated in the study (27 ASD with and without ID and 34 controls). Results highlight an executive profile characterised by impaired flexibility and deficient planning; these deficits are associated with decreased adaptive ability, particularly socialization, and a deficient shifting in ecologic conditions. These features are present in all ASD subgroups with and without ID; for this reason, they might be assumed as being specific features in ASD.

Highlights

The term “executive functions” (EF) refers to higher cognitive processes, mainly regulated by frontal lobes, which operate in daily complex situations and unusual contexts [1, 2]
The experimental group was divided into three subgroups: 11 individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) with normal cognitive level (IQ within one SD below/above the average; IQs range from 85 to 111), in the paper referred to as high-functioning ASD (HF-ASD); 8 individuals with ASD associated with borderline intellectual functioning (ASDBIF; IQ within 1 and 2 SDs below the average; IQs range from 79 to 84); 8 individuals with ASD associated with mild intellectual disability (ASD-MID; IQ 2 SDs below the average; IQs range from 54 to 68)
At the Clock drawing test (CDT), a significant difference was found in comparing ASD and no-ASD groups; as far as the subgroups comparisons are concerned, a significant difference was found only between ASD-MID and MID subgroups; the difference between HF-ASD and TD was not significant, but Cohen’s d value (.76) showed a nearly large effect size

Summary

Introduction

The term “executive functions” (EF) refers to higher cognitive processes, mainly regulated by frontal lobes, which operate in daily complex situations and unusual contexts [1, 2]. Several developmental disorders present with deficient EF, including autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Damasio and Maurer [5] observed that persons with autism showed some behaviours similar to those of persons with frontal lobe damage, suggesting a relation to specific neurological damage. This conceptual link between behaviour and brain led to the development of the theory of executive dysfunction [6, 7], by means of which repetitive behaviours and restricted interests have been best explained [6, 8]

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