title: The Specificity and Independent Contribution of Inhibition, Working Memory, and Reaction Time Variability in Relation to Symptoms of ADHD and ASD.
abstract: Objective:The aim of the present study was to investigate the specificity of inhibition, working memory (WM), and reaction time variability (RTV) in relation to symptoms of ADHD and autism spectrum disorder (ASD).Method:A community-based sample of schoolchildren aged 7 to 9 years (N= 200) completed tasks designed to measure inhibition, WM, and RTV.Results:All neuropsychological functions were related to symptoms of both ADHD and ASD. The results from regression analyses showed that inhibition and RTV were related specifically to ADHD symptoms when controlling for symptoms of ASD. Regarding WM, no specific association with either symptom domain was evident after controlling for the other. Furthermore, independent contributions of inhibition and RTV were found in relation to ADHD symptoms after controlling for ASD symptoms.Conclusion:The present study underscores the relevance of controlling for ADHD symptoms when examining ASD symptoms in relation to neuropsychological functions.
authors.affiliation: Uppsala University, Sweden.
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Truedsson
authors.affiliation: Uppsala University, Sweden.
authors.forename: Gunilla
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bohlin
authors.affiliation: Uppsala University, Sweden.
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wåhlstedt
mesh_terms: D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder; D002648:Child; D056344:Executive Function; D006801:Humans; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D011930:Reaction Time
keywords: ADHD; ASD; executive functions; independent contributions; specificity