Cognitive and emotional intelligence in young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder without an accompanying intellectual or language disorder (original) (raw)
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Behavioral, Cognitive and Neural Markers of Asperger Syndrome
Asperger syndrome (AS) is a subtype of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) characterized by major problems in social and nonverbal communication, together with limited and repetitive forms of behavior and interests. The linguistic and cognitive development in AS is preserved which help us to differentiate it from other subtypes of ASD. However, significant effects of AS on cognitive abilities and brain functions still need to be researched. Although a clear cut pathology for Asperger has not been identified yet, recent studies have largely focused on brain imaging techniques to investigate AS. In this regard, we carried out a systematic review on behavioral, cognitive, and neural markers (specifically using MRI and fMRI) studies on AS. In this paper, behavior, motor skills and language capabilities of individuals with Asperger are compared to those in healthy controls. In addition, common findings across MRI and fMRI based studies associated with behavior and cognitive disabilities are highlighted.
Asperger's Syndrome and Autism: Differences in Behavior, Cognition, and Adaptive Functioning
Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 1995
To determine whether subtypes of children with pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) differed on variables that were relatively independent of distinguishing criteria. Method: Higher-functioning children with PDD, 4 through 6 years of age, were differentiated into those with autism (n = 47) and those with Asperger's syndrome ( n = 21) on the basis of delayed and deviant language development. The groups were then compared on a wide range of measures including PDD symptoms, adaptive behaviors in communication, socialization, and activities of daily living, and an assessment of verbal and nonverbal cognitive skills. Results: Significant differences between the groups existed on many PDD symptoms, adaptive behaviors, and cognitive measures of language competence, but not on aspects of nonverbal communication, nonverbal cognition, or motor development. Conclusion: Subtypes of children with PDD can be identified that differ on variables relatively independent of defining characteristics. These findings should provide a firm foundation into research to determine whether children with autism and Asperger's syndrome also differ on outcome, etiology, and response to treatment.
The Neuropsychology of Male Adults With High-Functioning Autism or Asperger Syndrome
Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research, 2014
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is diagnosed on the basis of behavioral symptoms, but cognitive abilities may also be useful in characterizing individuals with ASD. One hundred seventy-eight high-functioning male adults, half with ASD and half without, completed tasks assessing IQ, a broad range of cognitive skills, and autistic and comorbid symptomatology. The aims of the study were, first, to determine whether significant differences existed between cases and controls on cognitive tasks, and whether cognitive profiles, derived using a multivariate classification method with data from multiple cognitive tasks, could distinguish between the two groups. Second, to establish whether cognitive skill level was correlated with degree of autistic symptom severity, and third, whether cognitive skill level was correlated with degree of comorbid psychopathology. Fourth, cognitive characteristics of individuals with Asperger Syndrome (AS) and high-functioning autism (HFA) were compared. After controlling for IQ, ASD and control groups scored significantly differently on tasks of social cognition, motor performance, and executive function (P's < 0.05). To investigate cognitive profiles, 12 variables were entered into a support vector machine (SVM), which achieved good classification accuracy (81%) at a level significantly better than chance (P < 0.0001). After correcting for multiple correlations, there were no significant associations between cognitive performance and severity of either autistic or comorbid symptomatology. There were no significant differences between AS and HFA groups on the cognitive tasks. Cognitive classification models could be a useful aid to the diagnostic process when used in conjunction with other data sources—including clinical history. Autism Res 2014, ●●: ●●–●●. © 2014 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 2007
Individuals with higher functioning autism (HFA) fail to translate their cognitive potential into real-life adaptation, and the severity of their symptoms is considerable despite their intellectual ability. This paper reports on a subsample from a larger study (A. Klin et al., in press) analyzed here by autism spectrum subtypes. It focuses on the nature of ability and disability in HFA and Asperger syndrome (AS) in relation to age and IQ. Participants included 32 individuals with autism and 35 with AS. Individuals with AS had significantly higher Verbal IQ scores and less symptomatology than individuals with autism, but their Vineland scores were equally impaired, highlighting the adaptive deficits in ASD regardless of classification. No relationship was found between adaptive functioning and symptom severity.
Defining the Behavioral Phenotype of Asperger Syndrome
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 2008
Asperger syndrome (AS) is characterized by social deficits and restricted interests in the absence of mental retardation and language delay. However, it is unclear to what extent the social deficits of AS differ from those of traditional autism. To address this issue, 58 subjects with AS were compared with 39 subjects with autism. Social deficits were classified according to Wing and Gould's method. Forty-six (79%) subjects with AS were rated as active but odd, while 32 (82%) with autism were described as aloof and passive, while a few subjects showed mixed features. Thus, despite the overlap between AS and autism, subjects with AS showed a distinct pattern of social impairment. Implications of these findings are discussed.
High-functioning autism and Asperger's Disorder: a neuropsychological comparison
Asperger's Disorder (AspD) and High Functioning Autism (HFA) are similar in many ways, creating a controversy regarding their separate diagnostic entities. Previous researchers have reported evidence that these two disorders only differ in terms of level of severity, whereas other researchers have reported evidence suggesting that the neuropsychological profiles differ between the two. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the similarities and differences between children with AspD and HFA. Assessment included measures of adaptive functioning, verbal abilities and nonverbal abilities as well as measures of social skills, behavioral problems, and emotional issues. In contrast to previous research, the AspD group did not differ from the HFA group in nonverbal abilities. Additional similarities between the groups included below average adaptive functioning and social skills and significant behavioral problems among both groups. Differences included a tendency toward better verbal abilities among the children with AspD, which is consistent with previous research. In contrast to previous literature was a tendency for relatively weaker executive functioning among the AspD group. Furthermore, the groups differed in the patterns of associations between cognitive, adaptive, and behavioral functioning. Overall the results have implications for future research as well as clinical assessment.