Brief report: inhibitory control of socially relevant stimuli in children with high functioning autism.
The current study explored whether inhibitory control deficits in high functioning autism (HFA) emerged when socially relevant stimuli were used and whether arousal level affected the performance. A Go/NoGo paradigm, with socially relevant stimuli and varying presentation rates, was applied in 18 children with HFA (including children with autism or Asperger syndrome) and 22 typically developing children (aged 8-13 years). Children with HFA did not show inhibitory control deficits compared to the control group, but their performance deteriorated in the slow presentation rate condition. Findings were unrelated to children's abilities to recognize emotions. Hence, rather than a core deficit in inhibitory control, low arousal level in response to social stimuli might influence the responses given by children with HFA.
Geurts
Hilde M
HM
Department of Psychonomics, University of Amsterdam, Roetersstraat 15, 1018 WB Amsterdam, The Netherlands. h.m.geurts@uva.nl
Begeer
Sander
S
Stockmann
Lex
L
D001143:Arousal; D020817:Asperger Syndrome; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D056348:Emotional Intelligence; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011930:Reaction Time; D012938:Social Perception