title: Metacognitive and emotional/motivational executive functions in individuals with autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: preliminary results.
abstract: Deficits in executive functions (EF) are frequently observed in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The aim of this study was to evaluate executive performances of children with ASD and ADHD, and then make between-group comparisons as well as comparisons with a control group.
  
  
  
  A total of 58 subjects were recruited, 17 with ASD but without intellectual impairment, 18 with ADHD-combined presentation and 23 with typical development, matched on gender, chronological age and intellectual level. They were tested on some EF domains, namely planning, mental flexibility, response inhibition and generativity, which account for both metacognitive and emotional/motivational executive functions. Results. Results showed a large overlapping of EF dysfunctions in ASD and ADHD and were not indicative of the presence of two real distinct EF profiles. Nevertheless, in ADHD, a more severe deficit in prepotent response inhibition (emotional/motivational EF) was found.
  
  
  
  Results are partially consistent with those found in the literature. Further studies with larger samples are needed to determine how ASD and ADHD differ in terms of their strengths and weaknesses across EF domains.
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Oasi Maria SS., Troina (EN).
authors.forename: Simonetta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Panerai
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Oasi Maria SS., Troina (EN).
authors.forename: Domenica
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tasca
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Oasi Maria SS., Troina (EN).
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ferri
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Oasi Maria SS., Troina (EN).
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Catania
authors.affiliation: Studio di Psicologia e Pedagogia, Catania.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Genitori D'Arrigo
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Oasi Maria SS., Troina (EN).
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Di Giorgio
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Oasi Maria SS., Troina (EN).
authors.forename: Marinella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zingale
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Oasi Maria SS., Troina (EN).
authors.forename: Grazia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Trubia
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Oasi Maria SS., Troina (EN).
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Torrisi
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Oasi Maria SS., Troina (EN).
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elia
mesh_terms: D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D004644:Emotions; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests