The aim of this study was to examine executive functioning, in particular, attentional set-shifting deficits in high-functioning autism (n = 12) and Asperger’s disorder (n = 12). A large or global digit composed of smaller or local digits was presented during each trial. The participants indicated the presence of 1s or 2s by pressing the appropriate button. These targets could appear globally or locally. Relative to IQ, sex and age matched controls, reaction time to global targets in individuals with autism was retarded when the previous target appeared locally. This deficiency in shifting from local to global processing, however, was not observed in individuals with Asperger’s disorder. The theoretical and neurobiological significance of this dissociation in executive functioning in these clinically related disorders was explored.
Achenbach, T.M. (1991) Manual for the Child Behavior Checklist, 4-18 and 1991 profile. Burlington, VT: Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont.
2.
American Psychiatric Association (1994) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edn (DSM-IV). Washington, DC: APA.
3.
Berger, H.J.C. , Van Spaendonck, K.P.M., Horstink, M.W.I.M., Buytenhuijs, E.L., Lammers, P.W.J.M. & Cools, A.R. (1993) ‘Cognitive Shifting as a Predictor of Progress in Social Understanding in High-Functioning Adolescents with Autism: A Prospective Study’, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders23 (2): 341-359.
4.
Casey, B.J. , Gordon, C.T., Mannheim, G.B. & Rumsey, J.M. (1993) ‘Dysfunctional Attention in Autistic Savants’, Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology15 (6): 933-946.
5.
Courchesne, E. , Townsend, J.P., Akshoomoff, N.A., Yeung-Courchesne, R., Press, G.A. & Murakami, J.W. (1994a) ‘A New Finding: Impairment in Shifting Attention in Autistic and Cerebellar Patients’, in S.H. Broman & J. Grafman (eds) Atypical Cognitive Deficits in Developmental Disorders: Implications for Brain Development, pp. 101-137. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
6.
Courchesne, E. , Townsend, J., Akshoomoff, N.A., Saitoh, O., Yeung-Courchesne, R., Lincoln, A.J., James, H.E., Haas, R.H., Schreibman, L. & Lau, L. (1994b) ‘Impairment in Shifting Attention in Autistic and Cerebellar Patients’, Behavioral Neuroscience108: 848-865.
7.
Cummings, J.L. (1993) ‘Fronto-Subcortical Circuits and Human Behavior’, Archives of Neurology50: 873-880.
8.
Damasio, A.R. & Maurer, R.G. (1978) ‘A Neurological Model for Childhood Autism’, Archives of Neurology35: 777-786.
9.
Frith, U. (1989) Autism: Explaining the Enigma. Oxford: Basil Blackwell.
10.
Ghaziuddin, M. & Gerstein, L. (1996) ‘Pedantic Speaking Style Differentiates Asperger Syndrome from High-Functioning Autism’, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders26 (6): 585-595.
11.
Howlin, P. & Ashgarian, A. (1999) ‘The Diagnosis of Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome: Findings from a Survey of 770 Families’, Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology41: 834-839.
12.
Hughes, C. & Russell, J. (1993) ‘Autistic Children’s Difficulty with Mental Disengagement from an Object: Its Implications for Theories of Autism’, Developmental Psychology29 (3): 498-510.
13.
Lord, C. , Rutter, M. & Le Couteur, A. (1994) ‘Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised: A Revised Version of a Diagnostic Interview for Caregivers of Individuals with Possible Pervasive Developmental Disorders’, Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders24 (5): 659-685.
14.
Maurer, R.G. & Damasio, A.G. (1982) ‘Childhood Autism from the Point of View of Behavioral Neurology’, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders12 (2): 195-205.
15.
Mottron, L. & Belleville, S. (1993) ‘A Study of Perceptual Analysis in a High-Level Autistic Subject with Exceptional Graphic Abilities’. Brain and Cognition23: 279-309.
16.
Mottron, L. , Burack, J.A., Stauder, J.E.A. & Robaey, P. (1999) ‘Perceptual Processing among High-Functioning Persons with Autism’, Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry40 (2): 203-211.
17.
Navon, D. (1977) ‘Forest before Tree: The Precedence of Global Features in Visual Perception’, Cognitive Psychology9: 353-383.
18.
Ozonoff, S. & Jensen, J. (1999) ‘Brief Report: Specific Executive Function Profiles in Three Neurodevelopmental Disorders’, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders29 (2): 171-177.
19.
Ozonoff, S. & Strayer, D.L. (1997) ‘Inhibitory Function in Non-Retarded Children with Autism’, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders27: 59-77.
20.
Ozonoff, S. , Strayer, D.L., McMahon, W.M. & Filloux, F. (1994) ‘Executive Function Abilities in Autism and Tourette’s Syndrome: An Information Processing Approach’, Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry35: 1015-1032.
21.
Pascualvaca, D.M. , Fantie, B.D., Papageorgiou, M. & Mirsky, A.E. (1998) ‘Attentional Capacities in Children with Autism: Is There a General Deficit in Shifting Focus?’, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders28 (6): 467-479.
22.
Pennington, B.F. & Ozonoff, S. (1996) ‘Executive Functions and Developmental Psychopathology’, Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry37 (1): 51-87.
23.
Plaisted, K. , Swettenham, J. & Rees, L. (1999) ‘Children with Autism Show Local Precedence in a Divided Attention Task and Global Precedence in a Selective Attention Task’, Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry40 (5): 733-742.
24.
Prior, M. & Hoffman, W. (1990) ‘Brief Report: Neuropsychological Testing of Autistic Children through an Exploration with Frontal Lobe Tests’, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders20 (4): 581-590.
25.
Rinehart, N.J. , Bradshaw, J.L., Moss, S.A., Brereton, A.V. & Tonge, B.J. (in press) ‘Atypical Interference of Local Detail on Global Processing in High-Functioning Autism and Asperger’s Disorder’, The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry41 (6): 769-778.
26.
Rumsey, J.M. & Hamburger, S.D. (1988) ‘Neuropsychological Findings in High-Functioning Men with Infantile Autism, Residual State’, Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology10: 201-221.
27.
Russell, J. (1997) Autism as an Executive Disorder. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
28.
Sattler, J.M. (1992) Assessment of Children-Revised and Updated Third Edition. San Diego, CA: Sattler.
29.
Sheppard, D.M. , Bradshaw, J.L., Purcell, R. & Pantelis, C. (1999) ‘Tourette’s and Comorbid Syndromes: Obsessive Compulsive and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. A Common Aetiology?’, Clinical Psychology Review19 (5): 531-552.
30.
Tonge, B. , Brereton, A., Gray, K.M. & Einfield, S.L. (1999) ‘Behavioural and Emotional Disturbance in High-Functioning Autism and Asperger’s Disorder’, Autism3 (2): 117-130.
31.
Townsend, J. , Harris, N.S. & Courchesne, E. (1996) ‘Visual Attention Abnormalities in Autism: Delayed Orienting to Location’, Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society2 (6): 541-550.
32.
Wainwright, J.A. & Bryson, S.E. (1996) ‘Visual-Spatial Orienting in Autism’, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders26 (4): 423-438.
33.
Ziatas, K. , Durkin, K. & Pratt, C. (1998) ‘Belief Term Development in Children with Autism, Asperger Syndrome, Specific Language Impairment, and Normal Development: Links to Theory of Mind Development’, Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry39 (5): 755-763.
