Abstract
Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) show daily cognitive flexibility deficits, but laboratory data are unconvincing.
The current study aimed to bridge this gap. Thirty-one children with ASD (8–12 years) and 31 age- and IQ-matched typically
developing children performed a gender emotion switch task. Unannounced switches and complex stimuli (emotional faces) improved
ecological validity; minimal working memory-load prevented bias in the findings. Overall performance did not differ between
groups, but in a part of the ASD group performance was slow and inaccurate. Moreover, within the ASD group switching from
emotion to gender trials was slower than vice versa. Children with ASD do not show difficulties on an ecological valid switch
task, but have difficulty disengaging from an emotional task set.
The current study aimed to bridge this gap. Thirty-one children with ASD (8–12 years) and 31 age- and IQ-matched typically
developing children performed a gender emotion switch task. Unannounced switches and complex stimuli (emotional faces) improved
ecological validity; minimal working memory-load prevented bias in the findings. Overall performance did not differ between
groups, but in a part of the ASD group performance was slow and inaccurate. Moreover, within the ASD group switching from
emotion to gender trials was slower than vice versa. Children with ASD do not show difficulties on an ecological valid switch
task, but have difficulty disengaging from an emotional task set.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s10803-012-1512-1
- Authors
- Marieke de Vries, Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Weesperplein 4, 1018 XA Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Hilde M. Geurts, Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Weesperplein 4, 1018 XA Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Journal Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
- Online ISSN 1573-3432
- Print ISSN 0162-3257