title: Cognitive variability in adults with ADHD and AS: disentangling the roles of executive functions and social cognition.
abstract: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Asperger's Syndrome (AS) share a heterogeneous cognitive profile. Studies assessing executive functions (EF) and social cognition in both groups have found preserved and impaired performances. These inconsistent findings would be partially explained by the cognitive variability reported in these disorders. First, the present study explored the inter-individual variability in EF and social cognition in both patient groups. Second, we compared differential characteristics and commonalities in the cognitive profiles of EF and social cognition between ADHD, AS and control adults. We assessed 22 patients with ADHD, 23 adults with AS and 21 matched typically developing subjects using different measures of EF (working memory, cognitive flexibility and multitasking) and social cognition (theory of mind and decision-making). Group comparisons and multiple case series analyses (MCSA) were conducted. The between-group comparisons showed an EF deficit in working memory in ADHD and a theory of mind (ToM) impairment in AS. The MCSA evidenced that, compared to controls, ADHD patients had a higher inter-individual variability in EF, while individuals with AS had a more heterogeneous profile in social cognition tasks compared to both groups. Finally, the AS and ADHD groups presented higher task-related variability compared to controls and shared a common heterogeneous profile in EF. This is the first study to compare variability in EF and social cognition profiles of ADHD and AS. We propose that heterogeneity in EF performance is a link between ADHD and AS which may explain the overlap of symptomatology between both diagnoses. In addition, patients with AS seem to show a unique heterogeneous profile in ToM which may explain the low probability of finding AS symptoms in patients with ADHD.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Psychology & Neuroscience (LPEN), Institute of Cognitive Neurology (INECO), Buenos Aires, Argentina. mgonzalez@ineco.org.ar
authors.forename: Maria Luz
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Gadea
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baez
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Torralva
authors.forename: Francisco Xavier
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Castellanos
authors.forename: Alexia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rattazzi
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bein
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rogg
authors.forename: Facundo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Manes
authors.forename: Agustin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ibanez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020817:Asperger Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D003657:Decision Making / Q000502:physiology; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012919:Social Behavior; D056345:Theory of Mind / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult