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KMID : 0368820020410061059
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Journal of the Korean Neuropsychiatr Association
2002 Volume.41 No. 6 p.1059 ~ p.1068
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A Neuropsychological Study of Executive Function Deficit in Autistic Disorder
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Shin Min-Sup
Park Hye-Geun
Hong Kang-E
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Abstract
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Objects: This study was conducted to investigate the executive function deficit and the lack of theory of mind in children with autistic disorder.
Method: Forty children, aged between 11 and 15, were involved in this study: 14 autistic disordered, 12 non-autistic mentally retarded(psychiatric control), and 14 normal children(normal control). In addition to the "Sally-Ann" task to test theory of mind, three other neuropsychological tests were administered individually to assess executive function in all subjects.
Results: Significant group differences were found on the executive function and the theory of mind tests. Those deficits were more widespread in the autistic group than in the non-autistic mentally retarded group. The autistic group was impaired on the test requiring inhibition of prepotent responses compared to the two control groups. Both of the autistic and the non-autistic mentally retarded groups exhibited difficulties in predicting other’s behavior based on their understanding of other’s mental states.
Conclusions: These results show that executive function and theory of mind deficits coexist in children with autistic disorder. This co-occurrence of deficits suggests the possibility that prefrontal cortex may be the neurological region responsible for causing autistic disorder.
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KEYWORD
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Executive function, Theory of mind, Autistic disorder
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