Abstract
Recent research on executive function (EF) deficits in autism has led investigators to conclude that EF deficits are secondary to the disorder. The current study has two major goals: (1) Examine whether specific EF deficits are present in the youngest autism group to date (mean = 2.9 years), and (2) examine whether such deficits are secondary to autism, or act as an early non-specific cognitive risk factor for autism by comparing EF abilities of this autism group to a CA-matched typically developing group. Results from Experiment 1 suggest no specific EF deficits in autism relative to MA-matched controls, while results from Experiment 2 are consistent with the hypothesis that EF deficits may emerge as a secondary deficit in autism. Alternative hypotheses are also considered.
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Acknowledgment
The research was supported by two National Institute of Child Health and Human Development grants: The Collaborative Programs of Excellence in Autism (HD35468), and the Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Center grant (HD04024). We would like to thank all the children and their families who participated in this study.
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Yerys, B.E., Hepburn, S.L., Pennington, B.F. et al. Executive Function in Preschoolers with Autism: Evidence Consistent with a Secondary Deficit. J Autism Dev Disord 37, 1068–1079 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-006-0250-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-006-0250-7