Processamento executivo na perturbação do espetro do autismo

: análise de uma tarefa de controlo inibitório e relação com frequência e tipo de comportamento repetitivo e restrito

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate executive performance in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and its relationship with the restricted repetitive behavior, a well-known characteristic of this population. The study had two main parts. In the first part we evaluated one of the main structures of executive function, the inhibitory control. This function was assessed with the Go / NoGo task and compared the efficiency of response inhibition among a group of 10 typically developing children and a group of 10 children with autism spectrum disorder. The results indicated that the group diagnosed with ASD had greater difficulty in performing the task, for the large number of Commission Errors. Regarding the group with ASD, the task measures of inhibitory control showed a significant association with the type and frequency of the restricted repetitive behavior of the group. This information was given and categorized through the Repetitive Behaviors Scale - Revised (RBS -R) that was completed by the caregivers of children with ASD. Statistical inference lead indeed to the conclusion that there is a positive correlation between the number of Commission Errors and the frequency of Stereotyped Behavioral patterns in this population.

Date of Award	2015
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Miguel Castelo Branco (Supervisor) & Joana Castelo Branco (Co-Supervisor)