Aspects of cognitive functioning in Autism Spectrum Disorders

Abstract

The goal of the thesis was to evaluate aspects of executive functioning (EF), that is functioning of the prefrontal cortex, in non-retarded adults with autism and related disorders (autism spectrum disorders, or ASD). Organized, goal directed behaviour is only possible if the prefrontal cortex is functioning properly. According to the EF theory of autism malfunctioning of the prefrontal cortex is central in ASD. Additionally automatization, that is the effect of prolonged practice on speed and accuracy, was studied. The results of one of the studies indicates, that people with ASD who use medication become confused more easily than others in situations in which attention has to be paid to multiple items at the same time, or when faced with high loads of information, like in traffic, and that they need clear and simple directions and instructions in general and especially in open end tasks. Since errors do not induce the usual feed back in people with ASD, they may need extra guidance and coaching, in both novel and familiar tasks. In the automatization study it was shown that individuals with ASD probably need more time than usual to learn a task.