The literature has shown a strong relationship between executive dysfunction and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), although there is no consensus on which subprocesses of executive functioning are impaired and/or preserved in this condition. This study aimed to investigate executive function and working memory in children and adolescents with ASD (n= 11) compared to children and adolescents with typical development (n= 19) matched by age, formal education, and nonverbal IQ. The tests used were: Raven’s Colored Progressive Matrices, Stroop Test, Trail Making Test, Rey’s Complex Figure Test, Digit span, Pseudowords span, Working memory, Verbal fluency (orthographic and semantic) and Go/no go. The results demonstrate impairment of executive function in the clinical group, especially in planning, flexibility, inhibition, and also visuospatial working memory.

Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Review ArticleResumo Objetivo: Prejuízos envolvendo o controle inibitório têm sido considerados déficits centrais em usuários de substâncias psicoativas, contudo parece haver disfunções específicas de acordo com a droga de escolha. Este artigo teve por objetivo revisar os achados recentes sobre alterações do controle inibitório em amostras de usuários de cocaína e/ou crack. Método: A pesquisa foi realizada nas bases de dados PubMed, PsycINFO e Web of Knowledge, em duas etapas, de acordo com os critérios de elegibilidade: inicialmente foi feita uma pesquisa nas bases de dados com análise dos títulos e resumos; após, os artigos foram lidos na íntegra. Os critérios de inclusão foram: artigos empíricos publicados em inglês, português ou espanhol, nos últimos 10 anos e que tenham avaliado o controle inibitório em usuários de cocaína e/ou crack. Resultados: Do total de 3.796 resultados, 56 títulos foram selecionados, sendo 20 excluídos. Como resultado, 36 artigos foram incluídos na revisão. Em 90% dos estudos revisados, foi relatada a presença de déficits de controle inibitório, verificados através de prejuízos no processamento cognitivo e no monitoramento de respostas, além de níveis elevados de impulsividade, independentemente do padrão de consumo de cocaína e/ou crack (uso recreativo ou crônico). Usuários em abstinência apresentaram níveis elevados de impulsividade, mesmo após longos períodos sem uso da droga. Conclusão: Usuários de cocaína e/ou crack podem apresentar prejuízos de controle inibitório apesar dos diferentes padrões de consumo. Níveis elevados de impulsividade podem constituir fator de vulnerabilidade para o uso de drogas e para a recaída. Descritores: Drogas, avaliação, inibição, cognição. AbstractObjective: Impairments involving inhibitory control have been considered central deficits in drug users, but it appears that dysfunctions may be specific to users' drug of choice. This article aims to review recent findings on inhibitory control impairment in samples of crack and/or cocaine users. Methods: Searches were conducted on the PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Knowledge databases in two stages according to eligibility criteria. Initially, databases were searched and the titles and abstracts of results were analyzed and then selected articles were read in full. Inclusion criteria were: empirical articles written in English, Portuguese, or Spanish, published in the last ten years and involving the assessment of inhibitory control in crack and/or cocaine users. Results: The database searches returned a total of 3,796 titles, 56 of them were selected initially and then a further 20 were excluded. Thirty-six articles were included in this review. In 90% of the studies reviewed the presence of inhibitory control deficits was reported, verified by impaired cognitive processing and response monitoring, as well as high levels of impulsiveness, regardless of the pattern of crack and/or cocaine consumption (recreational or chronic). Former users showed high levels of impulsi...

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition characterized by various cognitive and behavioral symptoms that may be associated, among other factors, with executive dysfunction. However, the relationship between these aspects still needs to be understood in more detail. The present study investigated associations and dissociations in the performance of 11 children/adolescents who were diagnosed with ASD without mental retardation, aged 10–15 years, in tasks that assessed executive function and working memory. Formal and functional assessment instruments and a questionnaire on developmental history and health-related aspects were used. Performance in tasks that were used for the objective assessment of executive function ranged from preserved to impaired, making the identification of specific performance profiles difficult. In contrast, functional assessment indicated the presence of important executive dysfunctions in 9 of the 11 cases. The present study stresses the importance of neuropsychological assessment using formal and functional (environmental) tools and mixed-model approaches (cases and groups) to provide a further understanding of executive dysfunction in ASD.

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This study assessed executive functions and inhibitory control in alcohol and crack users, as previous research suggests an association between substance-related disorders and impaired self-regulation and impulse control. In this study, 67 men aged 18-65 years completed the following instruments: sociodemographic questionnaire, Vocabulary and Matrix Reasoning (Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence), Five Digit Test, and Behavioral Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome. Alcohol and crack users showed deficits involving processing speed, response inhibition, flexibility, abstraction, planning, and monitoring. Analysis per type of drug revealed poorer cognitive performance among alcohol users. Years of drug use were associated with planning deficits. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis of an association between drug abuse and cognitive changes. In conclusion, impairments in executive functioning and inhibitory control were found in the study samples.***Avaliação das funções executivas e controle inibitório nos transtornos por uso de álcool e crack***Este estudo investigou as funções executivas e o controle inibitório em usuários de álcool e crack, pois pesquisas prévias sugerem associação entre os transtornos relacionados a substâncias e o comprometimento das capacidades de autorregulação e de controle dos impulsos. Neste estudo, 67 homens com idades entre 18-65 anos responderam aos seguintes instrumentos: questionário sociodemográfico, Vocabulário e Raciocínio Matricial (Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence), Five Digit Test e Behavioural Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome. Os usuários de álcool e crack apresentaram déficits envolvendo velocidade de processamento, inibição de respostas, flexibilidade, abstração, planejamento e monitoramento. A análise por droga de abuso revelou desempenho cognitivo inferior entre os alcoolistas. O tempo de abuso de drogas foi associado a déficits de planejamento. Esses achados são consistentes com a hipótese de associação do abuso de drogas com alterações cognitivas. Em conclusão, foram observadas alterações do funcionamento executivo e do controle inibitório nas amostras de usuários avaliadas.

This study aimed to compare impulsivity, aggressiveness, and alcohol and drug use in 115 male adolescents aged 14 to 17 years. The study have four groups as follows: (1) juvenile offenders (n = 30), (2) students in regular public education (n = 30), (3) athletes in a soccer team (n = 30), and (4) students at a military school (n = 25). The instruments used in this research were a questionnaire about substance use, the Barratt impulsiveness scale for young people, and the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory. The results indicated that juvenile offenders had higher levels of anger feelings and impulsivity compared with other groups. Although the groups did not differ in terms of alcohol experimentation, those who had already consumed alcohol presented higher scores on impulsivity and aggressiveness. Adolescents who had already tried drugs scored higher on impulsivity for non-planning and inward anger. In comparison with being detained in a juvenile offender regime, intense sports practice was associated with lower level of anger and studying in a military school with lower motor

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Introduction: The aim of neuropsychological assessment is to understand the multifaceted relationship between behavior, cognition and brain organization. The main objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature on impulsivity and inhibitory control in healthy adolescents and preadolescents. Method: Three researchers conducted a systematic review on November 25, 2014. The first step was to conduct searches on the Web of Knowledge and PubMed databases for articles in English using the following keywords: child; adolescents; impulsivity; inhibition; inhibitory control; and neuropsychology. The second step was to analyze all the references cited in the articles selected from the search results in order to identify further literature. Results: Just 13 articles met all the inclusion criteria. There was no consistency in the aims of these studies, or in the instruments or procedures employed. Conclusion: There was no uniformity among the articles that met all the criteria in terms of any of the items analyzed. There was considerable heterogeneity in these studies of impulsivity and inhibitory control, and few of them evaluated healthy samples.