title: Error processing in high-functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders.
abstract: Studies report error-processing abnormalities in high-functioning individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) that may be influenced by intelligence and autism severity. Error processing can be measured using the error-related negativity (ERN) and post-error positivity (Pe) components of the event-related potential (ERP), along with behavioral indices such as post-error reaction time (RT) slowing. We used a modified Flanker task to test the hypothesis that high-functioning individuals with ASD would show decreased amplitude ERN in 24 individuals with ASD and 21 age- and IQ-matched typically-developing control participants. Behaviorally, individuals with ASD committed more errors than controls, but groups did not significantly differ on RTs, although there was a trend-level difference in post-error slowing. For ERPs, ERN amplitude was significantly attenuated in individuals with ASD relative to controls; groups did not differ in Pe amplitude. Amplitude of the ERN was not significantly correlated with measures of intelligence, anxiety, behavioral inhibition, or general autism severity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, United States.
authors.forename: Mikle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: South
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Larson
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Krauskopf
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Clawson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires