A Neuropsychological Study of Executive Function Deficit in Autistic Disorder.
- Author:
Min Sup SHIN
1
;
Hye Geun PARK
;
Kang EM HONG
Author Information
1. Department of Child-Adolescent Psychiatry, Seoul National University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Executive function;
Theory of mind;
Autistic disorder
- MeSH:
Autistic Disorder*;
Child;
Executive Function*;
Humans;
Mentally Disabled Persons;
Neuropsychological Tests;
Prefrontal Cortex;
Theory of Mind
- From:Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association
2002;41(6):1059-1068
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
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.
