title: Executive function in preschoolers with autism: evidence consistent with a secondary deficit.
abstract: Recent research on executive function (EF) deficits in autism has led investigators to conclude that EF deficits are secondary to the disorder. The current study has two major goals: (1) Examine whether specific EF deficits are present in the youngest autism group to date (mean=2.9 years), and (2) examine whether such deficits are secondary to autism, or act as an early non-specific cognitive risk factor for autism by comparing EF abilities of this autism group to a CA-matched typically developing group. Results from Experiment 1 suggest no specific EF deficits in autism relative to MA-matched controls, while results from Experiment 2 are consistent with the hypothesis that EF deficits may emerge as a secondary deficit in autism. Alternative hypotheses are also considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Denver, 2155 S. Race Street, Denver, CO 80208, USA. byerys@nova.psy.du.edu
authors.forename: Benjamin E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Yerys
authors.forename: Susan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hepburn
authors.forename: Bruce F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Pennington
authors.forename: Sally J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Rogers
mesh_terms: D001076:Aptitude; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003210:Concept Formation; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009949:Orientation; D011340:Problem Solving; D012016:Reference Values; D012193:Reversal Learning; D012307:Risk Factors; D012718:Set, Psychology