Autistic Traits and Cognitive Performance in Young People with Mild Intellectual Impairment

Abstract

Cognitive performance and the relationship between theory of mind (TOM), weak central coherence and executive function were investigated in a cohort of young people with additional learning needs. Participants were categorized by social communication questionnaire score into groups of 10 individuals within the autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) range, 14 within the pervasive developmental disorder range and 18 with few autistic traits. The ASD group were significantly poorer than the other groups on a test of cognitive flexibility. In the ASD group only, there was a strong relationship between executive performance and TOM which remained after controlling for IQ. Our findings suggest that the relationship between cognitive traits may more reliably distinguish autism than the presence of individual deficits alone.

Two Novel Mutations in theBCKDK(Branched-Chain Keto-Acid Dehydrogenase Kinase) Gene Are Responsible for a Neurobehavioral Deficit in Two Pediatric Unrelated Patients

“…The present patients suffered problems of communication, social interaction, behavior, and showed some of the classic stereotypes of autistic spectrum disorders, but the most prominent manifestation was a global and severe neurodevelopmental disorder affecting cognition and motor function. It has been described that 30%–50% of patients with developmental delay or mental retardation have different types of associated neuropsychiatric symptoms, including autistic features [Harris et al., ]. Therefore, the present patients might be described as being affected by a neurodevelopmental disease that involves different signs: psychomotor delay, epileptic activity, and features of autism.…”

Understanding Executive Control in Autism Spectrum Disorders in the Lab and in the Real World

“…Four studies using the Behavioral Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome reveal mixed findings. Although Hill and Bird (2006) found executive control deficits on the Behavioral Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome in a group of high-functioning adults, Rajendren and colleagues (2005) and Harris and colleagues (2008) failed to find deficits on the Behavioral Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome in adolescents with autism, and Boucher and colleagues (2005) found intact performance on the Zoo Map subtest of the Behavioral Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome in young adults with autism. Results from the Predicaments Test (Channon et al, 2001), another ecologically valid executive control task, have been reported in a study of adolescents with autism.…”

Individual preferences in motor coordination seen across the two hands: relations to movement stability and optimality

“…The way a person implements a solution or group of solutions could be part of his/her personal preference, a coordination trait that can distinguish this person from others. Effects of personal traits on motor coordination have been studied typically in populations with neurological or psychological abnormalities such as autism, dyspraxia, developmental coordination disorder, and others (Harris et al 2008; Lingham et al 2010; Cheng et al 2017; Curioni et al 2017). Personality traits such as risk taking, novelty seeking, reward dependence, general arousal, and fear of falling have been linked to cerebellar activity (Picerni et al 2013; Petrosini et al 2015) and are known to correlate with indices of performance (Miller and Saygin 2013; Zaback et al 2015).…”