A Neuropsychological Study of Executive Function Deficit in Autistic Disorder

Shin, Min Sup; Park, Hye Geun; Hong, Kang EM

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study was conducted to investigate the executive function deficit and the lack of theory of mind in children with autistic disorder.
METHODS
Forty children, aged between 11 and 15, were involved in this study: 14 autistic disordered, 12 non-autistic mentally retarded(psychiatric control), and 14 normal children(normal control). In addition to the "Sally-Ann" task to test theory of mind, three other neuropsychological tests were administered individually to assess executive function in all subjects.
RESULTS
Significant group differences were found on the executive function and the theory of mind tests. Those deficits were more widespread in the autistic group than in the non-autistic mentally retarded group. The autistic group was impaired on the test requiring inhibition of prepotent responses compared to the two control groups. Both of the autistic and the non-autistic mentally retarded groups exhibited difficulties in predicting other's behavior based on their understanding of other's mental states.
CONCLUSIONS
These results show that executive function and theory of mind deficits coexist in children with autistic disorder. This co-occurrence of deficits suggests the possibility that prefrontal cortex may be the neurological region responsible for causing autistic disorder.