title: Executive functioning and working memory deficits on the CANTAB among children with prenatal alcohol exposure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Children with prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) display numerous neuropsychological impairments, including deficits on measures of executive functioning (EF) and working memory.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The goal of this project was to examine whether children with PAE and FASD demonstrate EF and working memory deficits on the CANTAB® (a computerized neuropsychological test).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four children with PAE and 26 control children were tested on the CANTAB®.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children with PAE demonstrated deficits in the areas of executive functioning, working memory, and attention. Among the PAE group, those with FASD were specifically impaired on working memory capacity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CANTAB® is a useful tool for detecting neurobehavioral deficits in children with PAE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta. carmen@ualberta.ca
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soleimani
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pei
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D056344:Executive Function / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D063647:Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000187:drug effects*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol