Deconstructing executive deficits among persons with autism: Implications for cognitive neuroscience
Abstract
Individuals with autism demonstrate impairments on measures of executive function (EF) relative to typically developing comparison participants. EF is comprised of several processes including inhibition, working memory and set shifting that develop throughout the lifespan. Impairments in EF may appear early in development and persist, or may represent a more transient delay which resolves with time. Given the unevenness of the cognitive profile of persons with autism, understanding the development of EF poses methodological challenges. These issues include those related to matching measures and the choice of comparison participants to which the performance of persons with autism will be compared. In the current review, we attempt to break down the processes of inhibition, working memory and set shifting among persons with autism. We propose to do this within a developmental perspective that highlights how matching measures and comparison participants can affect the interpretation of research findings.
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Developmental factors need to be taken into account when interpreting cognitive flexibility studies.
“These findings also indicate that in interpreting cognitive flexibility studies, developmental factors need to be taken into account [11,32].”
From The paradox of cognitive flexibility in autism (2009) · cites this paper as [11]
Age, cognitive level, and autism subtype heterogeneity does not adequately account for the inconsistent findings.
“Although one might assume that this also partly explains the inconsistent findings [3,11,32], we believe that these factors do not provide a sufficient explanation for the current findings.”
From The paradox of cognitive flexibility in autism (2009) · cites this paper as [11]
Russo et al. review found deficits in verbal working memory in children with ASD compared to TDC.
“This finding is in line with a review study by Russo et al. [48], finding deficits in verbal working memory in children with ASD compared to TDC.”
From Symptoms of ADHD in Children with High-Functioning Autism Are Related to Impaired Verbal Working Memory and Verbal Delayed Recall (2013) · cites this paper as [48]
Despite reports of cognitive flexibility deficits in ASD, particularly in younger children, there are conflicting notions regarding the extent, nature, etiology, and neurobiology of these deficits.
“Despite reports of cognitive flexibility deficits in ASD (70,71), particularly in younger children (72,73), there are conflicting notions regarding the extent, nature, etiology, and neurobiology of these deficits (74).”
From Brain Mechanisms Supporting Flexible Cognition and Behavior in Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder (2021) · cites this paper as [73]
Massive heterogeneity among participants with ASD in nonverbal IQ and language abilities necessitates proper characterization of samples and appropriate matching procedures.
“A third is the massive heterogeneity amongst participants with ASD in terms of nonverbal IQ (NVIQ) and language abilities, necessitating proper characterization of samples and the use of appropriate matching procedures with comparison groups”
From Can Bilingualism Mitigate Set-Shifting Difficulties in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders? (2019) · cites this paper as Russo et al., 2007
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References 63 · Cited by 237
- Authors
- Russo, N., Flanagan, T., Iarocci, G., Berringer, D., Zelazo, P. D., & Burack, J. A.
- Affiliations
- McGill University (CA)
- Simon Fraser University (CA)
- University of Toronto (CA)
- Hôpital Rivière-des-Prairies (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Burack, Jacob A.
- Venue
- Brain and Cognition
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2007-10
- Volume
- 65
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 77-86
- ISSN
- 0278-2626 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2131387387
- Cited by
- 237
- References
- 63
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 20 · 2015: 21 · 2014: 23 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 19
- FWCI
- 4.33
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Brain and Cognition (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Developmental and Educational Neuropsychology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Child and Animal Learning Development
- Keywords
- autism spectrum disorder, executive function, inhibition, working memory, set-shifting, cognitive development, developmental trajectories
- MeSH terms
- Autistic Disorder, Cognition Disorders, Humans, Human Development, Inhibition, Psychological, Memory, Neuropsychological Tests, Set, Psychology
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