Comparison of executive function between preschool-aged male children with high functioning autism and typically developing children
10.3760/cma.j.cn371468-20210618-00330
- VernacularTitle:学龄前男性高功能孤独症谱系障碍与典型发展儿童执行功能的比较
- Author:
Qin ZHAO
1
;
Yan LUO
;
Yaru ZHANG
;
Zhi SHAO
Author Information
1. 重庆市第九人民医院，重庆市儿童孤独症康复治疗中心 400700
- Keywords:
High functioning autism;
Executive function;
Preschool;
Male;
Children
- From:
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science
2021;30(10):923-928
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
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.
