Working memory and cognitive flexibility‐training for children with an autism spectrum disorder: a randomized controlled trial

Vries, Marieke de; Prins, Pier J. M.; Schmand, Ben; Geurts, Hilde M.

doi:10.1111/jcpp.12324

Cited by 122 publications

(161 citation statements)

References 59 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

151

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The improvements we found over time in both training groups have also been reported in other NF studies [33e36], and in other intervention studies [43]. The improvements may be a result of non-specific treatment-effects, including the influence of positive expectations about the efficacy of the intervention, a substantial risk in a 'high-tech' setting like NF.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

Neurofeedback ineffective in paediatric brain tumour survivors: Results of a double-blind randomised placebo-controlled trial

Ruiter

Oosterlaan

Meeteren

et al. 2016

European Journal of Cancer

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

Neurofeedback ineffective in paediatric brain tumour survivors: Results of a double-blind randomised placebo-controlled trial

Ruiter

Oosterlaan

Meeteren

et al. 2016

European Journal of Cancer

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Within AN, interventions like cognitive remediation therapy (CRT) which targets cognitive processes have been developed and empirically tested (Tchanturia et al 2013a(Tchanturia et al , 2015, with improvements in setshifting as well as high acceptability and engagement in the treatment being reported. In spite of this success, the use of executive function training in ASD is limited, with a paucity of research in this area (De Vries et al 2015). The few studies that have focused on flexibility training in ASD have yielded mixed results, with one study reporting improvements in flexibility (Kenworthy et al 2014), one showing no improvement (Fisher & Happe, 2005) and one suggesting a trend towards improvement with intention-to-treat analysis (De Vries et al 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In spite of this success, the use of executive function training in ASD is limited, with a paucity of research in this area (De Vries et al 2015). The few studies that have focused on flexibility training in ASD have yielded mixed results, with one study reporting improvements in flexibility (Kenworthy et al 2014), one showing no improvement (Fisher & Happe, 2005) and one suggesting a trend towards improvement with intention-to-treat analysis (De Vries et al 2015). These mixed findings may suggest that the type of flexibility training currently offered to individuals with ASD is not suitable for this population.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The set-shifting profiles of anorexia nervosa and autism spectrum disorder using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test: a systematic review and meta-analysis

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Difficulties in set-shifting are commonly reported in both autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and anorexia nervosa (AN) populations. Despite this, it is not known whether this cognitive profile persists across different ages, or whether the profiles seen in ASD and AN are comparable. This systematic review and meta-analyses aimed to compare the set-shifting profiles, as measured by the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) in adults and younger people with either ASD or AN, relative to healthy controls (HCs) and to statistically compare performance on the WCST between ASD and AN. In all, 24 studies on ASD and 22 studies on AN were identified. In ASD, there were significant differences between the clinical group and HCs, with the ASD group making significantly more perseverative errors, indicating greater difficulty in set-shifting [pooled effect size of d = 0.67, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.53-0.81, p 4 0.001]. This effect was consistent across the age span. For AN studies, there was a significant difference between adults with AN and HCs (d = 0.52, 95% CI 0.36-0.68, p 4 0.001) but a non-significant effect in child studies (d = 0.25, 95% CI −0.05 to 0.55, z = 1.66, p = 0.096). Meta-regression indicated no effect of diagnosis (AN or ASD) on performance in adult studies but there was a nonsignificant trend (p = 0.053) towards children with ASD performing worse than children with AN. While difficulties with set-shifting appear to be stable in ASD, there may be differences between children and adults with AN, which warrant further investigation.

show abstract

“…In addition to impaired social communication and repetitive behaviors, a hallmark feature of autism is restricted interests, deficits in set shifting and behavioral inflexibility (Dawson et al, 2002; D'Cruz et al, 2013; de Vries et al, 2015; Miller et al, 2015). A crucial step toward understanding cognitive inflexibility in ASD is to characterize associative learning in this disorder.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Touchscreen learning deficits and normal social approach behavior in the Shank3B model of Phelan–McDermid Syndrome and autism

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

SHANK3 is a synaptic scaffolding protein localized in the postsynaptic density and has a crucial role in synaptogenesis and neural physiology. Deletions and point mutations in SHANK3 cause Phelan–McDermid Syndrome (PMS), and have also been implicated in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disabilities, leading to the hypothesis that reduced SHANK3 expression impairs basic brain functions that are important for social communication and cognition. Several mouse models of Shank3 deletions have been generated, varying in the specific domain deleted. Here we report impairments in cognitive function in mice heterozygous for exon 13–16 (coding for the PDZ domain) deletion. The touchscreen pairwise discrimination task was chosen by virtue of its: (a) conceptual and technical similarities to the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) and NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery used for testing cognitive functions in humans, (b) minimal demand on motor abilities, and (c) capability to measure many aspects of learning and memory and complex cognitive functions, including cognitive flexibility. The similarity between our mouse tasks and human cognitive assays means a high translational validity in future intervention studies using preclinical models. Our study revealed that Shank3B heterozygous mice (+/–) were slower to reach criterion in the pairwise visual discrimination task, and exhibited trends toward making more errors (first trial errors) and more correction errors than wildtype mice (+/+). Open field activity was normal in +/–, ruling out hypo- or hyperactivity as potential confounds in the touchscreen test. Sociability in the three chamber test was also normal in both +/+ and +/–. These results indicate a deficit in discrimination learning in the Shank3B model of PMS and ASD, suggesting that this mouse model is a useful preclinical tool for studying neurobiological mechanisms behind cognitive impairments in PMS and ASD. The current findings are the starting point for our future research in which we will investigate multiple domains of cognition and explore pharmacological interventions.

show abstract

Working memory and cognitive flexibility‐training for children with an autism spectrum disorder: a randomized controlled trial

Cited by 122 publications

References 59 publications

Neurofeedback ineffective in paediatric brain tumour survivors: Results of a double-blind randomised placebo-controlled trial

Neurofeedback ineffective in paediatric brain tumour survivors: Results of a double-blind randomised placebo-controlled trial

The set-shifting profiles of anorexia nervosa and autism spectrum disorder using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Touchscreen learning deficits and normal social approach behavior in the Shank3B model of Phelan–McDermid Syndrome and autism

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About