Executive Dysfunction Theory

Question 1

Hill 2004: Planning:

Answer 1

Tower of Hanoi: Autistic group was impaired relative to both controls and those with ADHD, but this was only evident in those trials with a longer move sequence. Therefore Autism might be a contributing factor alongside mental age and learning disability.

Question 2

Hill 2004: Mental Flexibility:

Answer 2

Wisconsin Card Sort Task: The shift in rule change is not easily made in those with Autism compared to controls and those with other neuro disorders. They display preservative behaviours which remain consistent over time.

Question 3

Hill 2004: Inhibition:

Answer 3

On a classic test like the Stroop Test. Autistic individuals perform similar to controls, also on negative priming and neutral go/no-go tasks. However they fail to inhibit responses that are prepotent, but not all the time. Inconsistencies among the results, implications for complexity of task and whether EF can serve as a diagnostic tool for Autism.

Question 4

Megay et al 2009

Answer 4

Linked poorer cognitive flexibility according to WCST, to RRB’s in typically developing children. Unsure of which the direction of causality is. However there is a lack of data regarding IQ but establishing correlates in typical children allow’s us to place RRB’s in a developmental context and shows an association.

Question 5

Rajendran & Mitchell 2007

Answer 5

Issues regarding universality as there are inconsistencies with how many does show executive dysfunction ranging from 96% Orzonoff 1991 to 50% Pellicano 2006.
Uniqueness is also an issue with many other disorders showing executive dysfunction, but some have found specific impairment in cognitive flexibility Orzonoff 1997, whereas others have failed to distinguish between Autism, ADHD and Tourettes, Orzonoff and Jensen 1999.