autism, executive functioning. autisme, executieve functies.
Conditions
Interventions
Children will be randomly assigned to one of three different conditions
WM training, CogF training or non-EF training. The children will play a training computergame, in which these training conditions are embedded. The total number of training sessions is 25, with a fixe
the level is and will remain very low, so no EF is actually being trained. This condition will however apply to fastness of reaction, attention and concentration.
Sponsors
University of Amsterdam
Eligibility
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: 1. Children who are of 8-12 years old; 2. Have an IQ>80; 3. With a prior independent DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association, 2000) diagnosis of an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: Children that suffer from epilepsy or grand mal seizures or the like will be excluded from current research.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| 1. Cognitive flexibility: Switchcosts (reaction time (RT) on switchtrials compared to non-switchtrials) on the Gender/emotion switch task and Number switch task); 2. Working memory: Number correct on the Corsi Block Tapping Task and n-back task; 3. AD/HD symptoms: Score on the Disruptive Behavior Disorder rating scale (DBD); 4. Social skills: Score on the Children’s Social Behavior Questionnaire (CSBQ). See studyprotocol for further information about these tasks and questionnaires. | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| 1. Inhibition: Stop-reaction time on the Stop task; 2. AD/HD symptoms: Number correct on the Sustained attention response task (the SART); 3. EF (all) (Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function questionnaire (BRIEF); 4. Quality of Life (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory, PedsQL); 5. ToM (score on the Strange Stories Test), punnishment reward sensitivity (score on the BIS/BAS Questionnaire, RT and number correct on a reward vs. neutral version of the Eriksen flanker paradigm), and motivation (score on the VAS scale) will be included as predictors of improvement as a result of the program. See studyprotocol for further information about these tasks and questionnaires. | — |
Contacts
Public ContactMarieke Vries, de
University of Amsterdam Brain & Cognition Roeterstraat 15, A6.29
Outcome results
None listed