Computer-Based Assessment and Self-Report Measures of Executive Functions in High-Functioning Adults with Autism
This study analyzes the profile of executive functions (EF) in high-functioning adults with autism (HFA), both in terms of performance on four computer-based tasks, as well as how these functions are perceived by the individuals through self-reporting measures. The study included 64 participants: 32...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Brain Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/12/8/1069 |
| _version_ | 1827623445769224192 |
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| author | Ilinca Mihailescu Lucia Emanuela Andrei Alina Alexandra Frunza Mirela Manea Florina Rad |
| author_facet | Ilinca Mihailescu Lucia Emanuela Andrei Alina Alexandra Frunza Mirela Manea Florina Rad |
| author_sort | Ilinca Mihailescu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study analyzes the profile of executive functions (EF) in high-functioning adults with autism (HFA), both in terms of performance on four computer-based tasks, as well as how these functions are perceived by the individuals through self-reporting measures. The study included 64 participants: 32 individuals with HFA, and 32 typically developing controls. Four CANTAB tasks were used (assessing spatial working memory, planning, visual memory, and inhibition), as well as a self-reported measure of executive functions (BDEFS) and a scale for the severity of autism symptoms (RAADS-R). The participants in the ASD group performed significantly lower than the control group on all four computer-based tasks, as measured by the total number of errors made (for the spatial working memory, visual memory, and inhibition tasks) and the number of problems solved at the first choice (for the planning task). No correlation was found in the ASD group between the severity of autism symptoms and the computer-based measures. These findings provide evidence that HFA adults may have various executive functioning impairments, and subsequent daily life problems, but these deficits do not necessarily correlate with the severity of core ASD symptoms. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:48:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ba1f109ecf8b4cc194e37724f8396d79 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3425 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:48:44Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brain Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-ba1f109ecf8b4cc194e37724f8396d792023-11-30T23:18:21ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252022-08-01128106910.3390/brainsci12081069Computer-Based Assessment and Self-Report Measures of Executive Functions in High-Functioning Adults with AutismIlinca Mihailescu0Lucia Emanuela Andrei1Alina Alexandra Frunza2Mirela Manea3Florina Rad4Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, “Prof. Dr. Alexandru Obregia” Clinical Hospital of Psychiatry, 041914 Bucharest, RomaniaChild and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, RomaniaPsychiatry Department, Mina Minovici National Institute of Legal Medicine, 042122 Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, RomaniaChild and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, RomaniaThis study analyzes the profile of executive functions (EF) in high-functioning adults with autism (HFA), both in terms of performance on four computer-based tasks, as well as how these functions are perceived by the individuals through self-reporting measures. The study included 64 participants: 32 individuals with HFA, and 32 typically developing controls. Four CANTAB tasks were used (assessing spatial working memory, planning, visual memory, and inhibition), as well as a self-reported measure of executive functions (BDEFS) and a scale for the severity of autism symptoms (RAADS-R). The participants in the ASD group performed significantly lower than the control group on all four computer-based tasks, as measured by the total number of errors made (for the spatial working memory, visual memory, and inhibition tasks) and the number of problems solved at the first choice (for the planning task). No correlation was found in the ASD group between the severity of autism symptoms and the computer-based measures. These findings provide evidence that HFA adults may have various executive functioning impairments, and subsequent daily life problems, but these deficits do not necessarily correlate with the severity of core ASD symptoms.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/12/8/1069autismexecutive functionshigh-functioning autism |
| spellingShingle | Ilinca Mihailescu Lucia Emanuela Andrei Alina Alexandra Frunza Mirela Manea Florina Rad Computer-Based Assessment and Self-Report Measures of Executive Functions in High-Functioning Adults with Autism Brain Sciences autism executive functions high-functioning autism |
| title | Computer-Based Assessment and Self-Report Measures of Executive Functions in High-Functioning Adults with Autism |
| title_full | Computer-Based Assessment and Self-Report Measures of Executive Functions in High-Functioning Adults with Autism |
| title_fullStr | Computer-Based Assessment and Self-Report Measures of Executive Functions in High-Functioning Adults with Autism |
| title_full_unstemmed | Computer-Based Assessment and Self-Report Measures of Executive Functions in High-Functioning Adults with Autism |
| title_short | Computer-Based Assessment and Self-Report Measures of Executive Functions in High-Functioning Adults with Autism |
| title_sort | computer based assessment and self report measures of executive functions in high functioning adults with autism |
| topic | autism executive functions high-functioning autism |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/12/8/1069 |
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