Flexibility on the Spectrum: Impairment of Cognitive Flexibility in Subclinical Autism Spectrum Disorder

Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often experience impairments in executive functions. Cognitive flexibility, or the capacity to adjust effectively to situational demands, is necessary for adaptive behavior, as is cognitive stability, which is the capacity to focus on a present activity despite interruption. Although there has been research on cognitive inflexibility and ASD, less is known about the relationship between cognitive flexibility and other, less well-researched features of subclinical ASD. The current study aimed to investigate whether attention to numbers and pattern, as specific features of subclinical ASD, predict cognitive flexibility impairment. In order to assess this relationship, the study recruited 100 participants and performed a task-switching exercise along with a self-report assessment of ASD symptoms. High scores for number/pattern recognition were thought to increase switch cost, the degradation in performance when transitioning between tasks...Show moreIndividuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often experience impairments in executive functions. Cognitive flexibility, or the capacity to adjust effectively to situational demands, is necessary for adaptive behavior, as is cognitive stability, which is the capacity to focus on a present activity despite interruption. Although there has been research on cognitive inflexibility and ASD, less is known about the relationship between cognitive flexibility and other, less well-researched features of subclinical ASD. The current study aimed to investigate whether attention to numbers and pattern, as specific features of subclinical ASD, predict cognitive flexibility impairment. In order to assess this relationship, the study recruited 100 participants and performed a task-switching exercise along with a self-report assessment of ASD symptoms. High scores for number/pattern recognition were thought to increase switch cost, the degradation in performance when transitioning between tasks, in people with subclinical ASD. Furthermore, it was assumed that the same individuals would have greater stability as evidenced by a lower incongruence cost, indicating less cross-task interference. While there was no significant correlation between cognitive flexibility and subclinical ASD features, we found some contradicting results that suggested a positive relationship for incongruence cost. The study was able to point out the need for more investigation, while raising questions about how attention to numbers and patterns and cognitive flexibility relate to one another in individuals with ASD. Future studies may focus on examining the neural bases of cognitive flexibility in order to provide a more thorough explanation.Show less

Leiden University Student Repository

Documents

In Collections

Flexibility on the Spectrum: Impairment of Cognitive Flexibility in Subclinical Autism Spectrum Disorder