Executive function deficits and neural discordance in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined neurophysiologic activities, executive dysfunctions, and their association in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).


METHODS
Thirty-eight normal and 16 children with ASD participated with parental consent. Executive functions were measured using neuropsychological tests and parent ratings, and neurophysiologic activities were measured using EEG to yield cordance values, an indirect measure of brain perfusion.


RESULTS
Children with ASD made significantly more intrusion errors and False Alarms on the Hong Kong List Learning Test (HKLLT) and Object Recognition Test (OR) than normal children, but were comparable to normal children on the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test and Continuous Performance Test. They also showed significantly poorer executive functions in everyday activities as shown on the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF), and had lower frontal perfusion patterns than normal children as shown in the neurophysiologic cordance measures. Frontal cordance values were found to be significantly associated with executive dysfunctions in HKLLT Delayed Intrusions, OR False Alarms and BRIEF.


CONCLUSIONS
Children with ASD were impaired in everyday executive functioning and response inhibition. The cordance value, which has been shown to correlate with brain perfusion in a number of studies, was significantly correlated with executive dysfunctions.


CONCLUSIONS
Exploration of this measure as an index for response to intervention is warranted.
Integrative Neuropsychological Rehabilitation Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. aschan@psy.cuhk.edu.hk
Agnes S
AS
Chan
Mei-chun
MC
Cheung
Yvonne M Y
YM
Han
Sophia L
SL
Sze
Winnie W
WW
Leung
Hok Sum
HS
Man
Cho Yee
CY
To
D000293:Adolescent; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests