Evaluation of Planning Dysfunction in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Autistic Spectrum Disorders Using the Zoo Map Task

Attention-Deficit-Hyperactivity-Disorders (ADHD) and Autistic-Spectrum-Disorders (ASD) share overlapping clinical and cognitive
features that may confuse the diagnosis. Evaluation of executive problems and planning dysfunction may aid the clinical diagnostic
process and help disentangle the neurobiological process underlying these conditions. This study evaluates the planning function
problems in 80 male children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD and 23 male children and adolescents with ASD using the Zoo
Map Task; both groups were comparable in terms of age and IQ. The relationship between planning function and other executive
functions is also assessed. In comparison to the ADHD groups, ASD children presented more errors in the open-ended tasks;
these planning function problems seem to be mediated by processing speed and motor coordination, however it does not seem
to be mediated by other executive function problems, including attention, working memory or response inhibition. In the time
for planning, an interaction between the specific subgroups and working memory components was observed. ADHD and ASD present
with different patterns of planning function, even when other components of executive function are taken into account; clinical
and educational implications are discussed.