Neuropsychology of ASD

Question 1

All of the deficits listed below are core deficits associated with autism except one, which one?
A. Social relatedness and interaction
B. Verbal and non-verbal communication
C. Restricted interests, repetitive or stereotyped behaviors, resistance to change
D. Poor reading and writing skills

Answer 1

D. Poor reading and writing skills

Question 2

Social (Pragmatics) Communication Disorder according to the DSM-5 includes the following:

A. Impairment in pragmatics and low social communication
B. A rule out of ASD
C. Symptoms must be present in early childhood
D. All of the above

Answer 2

D. All of the above

Question 3

Soft signs of abnormalities in ASD include:
A. Choreiform movements, labile affect, motor impersistence, tremors, postural abnormalities
B. Fluctuating affect, mild shakes, dysarthria, diffuse EEG abnormalities
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A and B

Answer 3

A. Choreiform movements, labile affect, motor impersistence, tremors, postural abnormalities

Question 4

Children or adults with autism have problems with activities that require the coordination of multiple brain aeras (imagery) or flexible understanding (multiple representations) of spoken language.  This provides support for which one of the theories of autism?
A.	The limbic system hypothesis
B.	The weak central coherence hypothesis
C.	The EF hypothesis
D.	The theory of mind hypothesis

Answer 4

B. The weak central coherence hypothesis

Question 5

This theory of autism best explains the restricted and repetitive features of the disorder such as resistance to change and exclusive focus on a single part of an object.
A.	The limbic system hypothesis
B.	The weak central coherence hypothesis
C.	The EF hypothesis
D.	The theory of mind hypothesis

Answer 5

B. The weak central coherence hypothesis

Question 6

On which subtest on the WISC-V do autistic children outperform normal controls?
A.	Block Design
B.	Coding 
C.	Figure Weights
D.	Picture Concepts

Answer 6

A. Block Design

Question 7

Theory of mind is primarily localized within what part of the brain?
A.	Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
B.	Medial prefrontal cortex
C.	Orbitofrontal cortex
D.	Anterior cingulate

Answer 7

B. Medial prefrontal cortex

Question 8

What type of brain cell has been found to reflect one’s ability to take someone else’s perspective?
A.	Mirror neurons
B.	Schwann cells
C.	Motor neurons
D.	Sensory neurons

Answer 8

A. Mirror neurons

Question 9

All of the following would be useful subtests to administer if autism is suspected, except for:
A.	NEPSY-II’s Inhibition
B.	NEPSY-II’s Arrows
C.	NEPSY-II’s Memory for Faces
D.	NEPSY-II’s Theory of Mind

Answer 9

B. NEPSY-II’s Arrows

Question 10

Which one is considered a scientifically best practice for treating ASD?
A.	Facilitated Communication
B.	Discrete Trail Teaching
C.	Floor Time
D.	Structured Teaching

Answer 10

B. Discrete Trial teaching