Brief Report: CANTAB Performance and Brain Structure in Pediatric Patients with Asperger Syndrome

Abstract

By merging neuropsychological (CANTAB/cambridge neuropsychological test automated battery) and structural brain imaging data (voxel-based-morphometry) the present study sought to identify the neurocognitive correlates of executive functions in individuals with Asperger syndrome (AS) compared to healthy controls. Results disclosed subtle group differences regarding response speed on only one CANTAB subtest that is thought to tap fronto-executive network functions (SWM/spatial working memory). Across all participants, SWM performance was significantly associated with two brain regions (precentral gyrus white matter, precuneus grey matter), thus suggesting a close link between fronto-executive functions (SWM) and circumscribed fronto-parietal brain structures. Finally, symptom severity (ADOS total score) was best predicted by response speed on a set-shifting task (IES) thought to tap fronto-striatal functions (corrected R2 56%).

Age-related differences in inhibitory control and memory updating in boys with Asperger syndrome

“…While in high-functioning adult individuals with autism spectrum disorder, behavioral performance was similar to a control group in a random-motor-generation task, group differences emerged regarding brain activity in the cerebellum (known to mediate motor learning and the coordination of voluntary movements, among others, e.g., [ 66 ]). Thus, the latter findings suggest that beyond prefrontal cortices, also extra-frontal regions may mediate autism-related behavior and performance characteristics (see, for example, recent connectivity studies [ 67 , 68 ] as well as respective structural brain imaging findings, e.g., [ 3 ]).…”

Psychopathological and neuropsychological endophenotypes of children with disruptive behaviour

“…Deficits in EF abilities have been implicated in a number of neurodevelopmental disorders, including ADHD (Kofler et al, 2013), ASD (Kaufmann et al, 2013), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) (Hybel, Mortensen, Lambek, Thastum, & Thomsen, 2017), and DBDs (Wakschlag et al, 2018). Recent research in DBD populations has identified specific EF deficits, such as response inhibition (i.e., the ability to inhibit a prepotent response) and selective attention (i.e., the capacity to selectively attend to certain stimuli) (Friedman & Miyake, 2017).…”

“…These tests have been successfully used in both healthy and clinical populations, including children with neurodevelopmental disorders and DBDs (Delmonte et al, 2012;Glenthøj et al, 2016;Lin & Gau, 2017;Luciana & Nelson, 2002;Robbins et al, 1994), and research has supported the construct validity of the CANTAB in measuring brain-behaviour relationships in adult psychiatric and neurological patient populations (Luciana & Nelson, 2002). Tests from the CANTAB battery were selected because they require minimal reading, are engaging for children as they are computerized and have a 'game-like' quality (participants use a press-pad or touchscreen), and once each task has been introduced and started it requires minimal interaction between tester and participant thereby reducing distraction and potential participant anxiety (Haring, Mottus, Koch, Trei, & Maron, 2015;Kaufmann et al, 2013). The following three subtests were used in the present study:…”

Exploring the spatial working memory and visual perception in children with autism spectrum disorder and general population with high autism-like traits

“…Previous researches had provided inconclusive evidence about whether children with ASD are impaired in working memory. Investigations of school aged children and adolescents suggested working memory impairment in ASD [21,22]. Working memory deficit is associated with symptoms of children and adolescents with ASD such as communication and socialization impairments [23,24], restrictive and repetitive interests and behaviors [25].…”

“…Several studies investigated the spatial working memory to confirm the dysfunction. However, whether children with ASD are impaired in the spatial working memory was not confirmed because of different measures used [21,30,31]. Furthermore, the visual perception requires executive functions such as planning and working memory, visual perception also affects the test results of spatial working memory.…”