Executive function in preschoolers with autism: Evidence consistent with a secondary deficit

Benjamin E. Yerys; Susan L. Hepburn; Bruce F. Pennington; Sally J Rogers

doi:10.1007/s10803-006-0250-7

Executive function in preschoolers with autism: Evidence consistent with a secondary deficit

Benjamin E. Yerys, Susan L. Hepburn, Bruce F. Pennington, Sally J Rogers

Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

42 Scopus citations

Abstract

Recent research on executive function (EF) deficits in autism has led investigators to conclude that EF deficits are secondary to the disorder. The current study has two major goals: (1) Examine whether specific EF deficits are present in the youngest autism group to date (mean = 2.9 years), and (2) examine whether such deficits are secondary to autism, or act as an early non-specific cognitive risk factor for autism by comparing EF abilities of this autism group to a CA-matched typically developing group. Results from Experiment 1 suggest no specific EF deficits in autism relative to MA-matched controls, while results from Experiment 2 are consistent with the hypothesis that EF deficits may emerge as a secondary deficit in autism. Alternative hypotheses are also considered.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1068-1079
Number of pages	12
Journal	Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Volume	37
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-006-0250-7
State	Published - Jul 2007

Keywords

Autism
Children
Cognitive flexibility
Executive function

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Psychology(all)
Developmental and Educational Psychology

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