The development of executive function in autism

Abstract

Autism is a common and often highly debilitating neurodevelopmental condition, whose core behavioral features are believed to be rooted in disrupted neurocognitive processes, including especially "executive function." Researchers have predominantly focused upon understanding the putative causal relationship between difficulties in EF and autistic symptomatology. This paper suggests, however, that the effects of individual differences in EF should be more far-reaching, playing a significant part in the real-life outcomes of individuals with autism, including their social competence, everyday adaptive behavior, and academic achievement. It further considers the nature of the EF-outcome relationship, including the possible determinants of individual differences in EF, and makes several recommendations for future research.

Figure 1

A simplified model showing a unitary executive function (EF) construct early in development and an emergent fractionated construct of EF with development with latent EF variables of working memory (WM), inhibitory control (IC), and set-shifting (SS).

Figure 2

Three simplified models showing executive function (EF) development. Model (a) includes a latent construct of attention that influences baseline levels (EF intercept) and rate of growth of EF (EF slope). Model (b) shows a latent construct of language mediating baseline EF and its developmental trajectory. Model (c) includes latent constructs of attention and language, which both influence the development of EF. These models could be tested using latent growth curve modelling.