Deficits in executive functions among youths with autism spectrum disorders: an age-stratified analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Impaired executive function (EF) is suggested to be one of the core features in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD); however, little is known about whether the extent of worse EF in ASD than typically developing (TD) controls is age-dependent. We used age-stratified analysis to reveal this issue.

Method

We assessed 111 youths with ASD (aged 12.5 ± 2.8 years, male 94.6%) and 114 age-, and sex-matched TD controls with Digit Span and four EF tasks of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB): Spatial Span (SSP), Spatial Working Memory (SWM), Stockings of Cambridge (SOC), and Intradimensional/Extradimensional Shift Test (I/ED).

Results

Compared to TD controls, youths with ASD performed poorer on the Digit Span, SWM, SOC, and

SUBMITTER: Chen SF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4873936 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature