Event-Related Potentials in a Cued Go-NoGo Task Associated with Executive Functions in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder; A Case-Control Study

Abstract

Executive functions are often affected in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The underlying biology is however not well known. In the DSM-5, ASD is characterized by difficulties in two domains: Social Interaction and Repetitive and Restricted Behavior, RRB. Insistence of Sameness is part of RRB and has been reported related to executive functions. We aimed to identify differences between ASD and typically developing (TD) adolescents in Event Related Potentials (ERPs) associated with response preparation, conflict monitoring and response inhibition using a cued Go-NoGo paradigm. We also studied the effect of age and emotional content of paradigm related to these ERPs. We investigated 49 individuals with ASD and 49 TD aged 12–21 years, split into two groups below (young) and above (old) 16 years of age. ASD characteristics were quantified by the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) and executive functions were assessed with the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF), both parent-rated. Behavioral performance and ERPs were recorded during a cued visual Go-NoGo task which included neutral pictures (VCPT) and pictures of emotional faces (ECPT). The amplitudes of ERPs associated with response preparation, conflict monitoring, and response inhibition were analyzed. The ASD group showed markedly higher scores than TD in both SCQ and BRIEF. Behavioral data showed no case-control differences in either the VCPT or ECPT in the whole group. While there were no significant case-control differences in ERPs from the combined VCPT and ECPT in the whole sample, the Contingent Negative Variation (CNV) was significantly enhanced in the old ASD group (p = 0.017). When excluding ASD with comorbid ADHD we found a significantly increased N2 NoGo (p = 0.016) and N2-effect (p = 0.023) for the whole group. We found no case-control differences in the P3-components. Our findings suggest increased response preparation in adolescents with ASD older than 16 years and enhanced conflict monitoring in ASD without comorbid ADHD during a Go-NoGo task. The current findings may be related to Insistence of Sameness in ASD. The pathophysiological underpinnings of executive dysfunction should be further investigated to learn more about how this phenomenon is related to core characteristics of ASD.

Atypical event-related potentials revealed during the passive parts of a Go-NoGo task in autism spectrum disorder: a case-control study

“…The main finding of the present study was significant case-control ERP differences in a cued Go-NoGo task during the passive parts of the test. The ASD group had a delayed occipital N1-component and increased fronto-central P3a-amplitude in the passive parts of the task, while results in the active part were without significant differences in line with previous reports [28, 29]. These abnormal ERP signals were associated with everyday executive function, suggesting that neurophysiolocal measures related to atypical control of alertness and “hyper-awareness” underlie daily life dysfunction in ASD.…”

“…Executive dysfunction in everyday life is typical for ASD subjects and contributes substantially to the degree of disability [46–48]. However, in the laboratory, both performance and electrophysiological measures of EF may be equal to TD adolescents [5, 27, 29]. Interestingly, in the passive part of the cued Go-NoGo task, the ASD group differed from the controls.…”

“…In contrast to Keehn et al [9], P3a showed a correspondingly significantly enhanced amplitude in all passive conditions in ASD in our study. The P3b elicited in the active parts (Go and NoGo) were similar between the two groups of participants [29]. Also the MMN literature has divergent findings in the ASD group, both enhanced and normal and reduced MMN is described [45].…”

“…We have previously reported no difference in behavior performance among ASD and controls in a Go-NoGo task [28] and similar ERPs during the active parts of the test [29]. However, the parents rating on the BRIEF indicate significant EF difficulties in the ASD group.…”

“…Studies on attention in ASD compared to typical developing (TD) yield mixed results both regarding performance and neurophysiological responses [26–29]. Both reduced and enhanced neural activation is found in novelty-processing [25, 30–32].…”