Cognitive Set Shifting Deficits and Their Relationship to Repetitive Behaviors in Autism Spectrum Disorder

The neurocognitive impairments associated with restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs) in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are not yet clear. Prior studies indicate that individuals with ASD show reduced cognitive flexibility, which could reflect difficulty shifting from a previously learned respon...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of autism and developmental disorders 2015-03, Vol.45 (3), p.805-815
Main Authors: Miller, Haylie L., Ragozzino, Michael E., Cook, Edwin H., Sweeney, John A., Mosconi, Matthew W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Autism
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Behavior Patterns
Behavior Problems
Behavioral Science and Psychology
Case-Control Studies
Child
Child and School Psychology
Child Development Disorders, Pervasive - physiopathology
Child Development Disorders, Pervasive - psychology
Cognition
Cognition Disorders - physiopathology
Cognition Disorders - psychology
Cognitive Ability
Cognitive Development
Cognitive Processes
Comparative Analysis
Computers
Correlation
Developmental Disabilities
Error Patterns
Female
Humans
Male
Neurological Impairments
Neurosciences
Original Paper
Pediatrics
Pervasive Developmental Disorders
Pharmacology
Positive Reinforcement
Psychological Patterns
Psychology
Public Health
Resistance (Psychology)
Severity (of Disability)
Stereotyped Behavior
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Description
Summary:The neurocognitive impairments associated with restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs) in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are not yet clear. Prior studies indicate that individuals with ASD show reduced cognitive flexibility, which could reflect difficulty shifting from a previously learned response pattern or a failure to maintain a new response set. We examined different error types on a test of set-shifting completed by 60 individuals with ASD and 55 age- and nonverbal IQ-matched controls. Individuals with ASD were able to initially shift sets, but they exhibited difficulty maintaining new response sets. Difficulty with set maintenance was related to increased severity of RRBs. General difficulty maintaining new response sets and a heightened tendency to revert to old preferences may contribute to RRBs.
ISSN:0162-3257
1573-3432
DOI:10.1007/s10803-014-2244-1