title: Investigating multitasking in high-functioning adolescents with autism spectrum disorders using the Virtual Errands Task.
abstract: Using a modified version of the Virtual Errands Task (VET; McGeorge et al. in Presence-Teleop Virtual Environ 10(4):375-383, 2001), we investigated the executive ability of multitasking in 18 high-functioning adolescents with ASD and 18 typically developing adolescents. The VET requires multitasking (Law et al. in Acta Psychol 122(1):27-44, 2006) because there is a limited amount of time in which to complete the errands. ANCOVA revealed that the ASD group completed fewer tasks, broke more rules and rigidly followed the task list in the order of presentation. Our findings suggest that executive problems of planning inflexibility, inhibition, as well as difficulties with prospective memory (remembering to carry out intentions) may lie behind multitasking difficulties in ASD.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychological Sciences and Health, University of Strathclyde, 40 George Street, Glasgow G1 1QE, Scotland, UK. thusha.rajendran@strath.ac.uk
authors.forename: Gnanathusharan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rajendran
authors.forename: Anna S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Law
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Logie
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van der Meulen
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Corley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000523:psychology*; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000592:standards*