Comparison of executive function between preschool-aged male children with high functioning autism and typically developing children / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To discuss the executive function (EF) characteristics of preschool aged male children diagnosed as high-functioning autism (HFA), and to compare the EF differences between HFA and typically developing (TD) children.Methods:Twenty-six preschool male HFA children aged 4-5 years old and chronological age and gender matched TD children were recruited respectively. Parent questionnaire behavior rating scale of executive function-preschool version (BRIEF-P) and executive function battery EF-TOUCH were adopted to explore the EF characteristics and the differences between the two groups. SPSS 22.0 software was used for statistical analysis, including descriptive statistics, χ2 test, t-test and Mann-Whitney U test. Results:EF-TOUCH results demonstrated significant differences with correct proportions of inhibition tasks (Arrow, Pig, silly sounds game (SSG)), working memory task (pick the picture (PTP)) and cognitive flexibility task (something′s the same (STS)) between groups (Arrow Z=-2.278, P=0.023; Pig Z=-2.599, P=0.009; SSG Z=-1.985, P=0.047; PTP t=2.635, P=0.011; STS Z=-3.556, P=0.000). The accuracy rate in HFA group were significantly lower than TD group (HFA group Arrow 0.76 (0.57, 0.92), Pig 0.95 (0.90, 1.00), SSG 0.85 (0.57, 0.94), PTP 0.74±0.11, STS 0.77 (0.62, 0.90); TD group Arrow 0.92 (0.78, 0.95), Pig 1.00 (0.98, 1.00), SSG 0.94 (0.82, 1.00), PTP 0.81±0.09, STS 0.93 (0.82, 0.97)). Reaction time(RT) of Pig task was longer in HFA group than TD group (HFA (1 624.29±234.33)ms; TD (1 481.39±220.78)ms, t=-2.263, P=0.028). RTs of Arrow and SSG for both groups were not significantly different ( P>0.05). Children of HFA group exhibited worse inhibition and working memory(WM) than TD children in BRIEF-P(inhibition HFA group (60.73±10.47), TD group (54.73±6.87); WM HFA group (68.04±11.51), TD group (61.69±8.44))( t=-2.443, P=0.018; t=-2.267, P=0.028 respectively). No significant differences were found in the rest factors and domains for both groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions:Apparent inhibition control, working memory and cognitive flexibility deficiencies were found in preschool aged male HFA children. There are significant EF differences between preschool aged male HFA and typically developing children.