Executive functions and developmental psychopathology

Author(s): Ozonoff, S.

Journal/Book: J Child Psychol Psychiat. 1996; 37: The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford, England OX5 1GB. Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd. 51-87.

Abstract: In this paper, we consider the domain of executive functions (EFs) and their possible role in developmental psychopathologies. We first consider general theoretical and measurement issues involved in studying EFs and then review studies of EFs in four developmental psychopathologies: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conduct disorder (CD), autism, and Tourette syndrome (TS). Our review reveals that EF deficits are consistently found in both ADHD and autism but not in CD (without ADHD) or in TS. Moreover, both the severity and profile of EF deficits appears to differ across ADHD and autism. Molar EF deficits are more severe in the latter than the former. In the few studies of more specific EF tasks, there are impairments in motor inhibition in ADHD but not in autism, whereas there are impairments in verbal working memory in autism but not ADHD. We close with a discussion of implications for future research.

Note: Review BF Pennington, Univ Denver, Dept Psychol, Denver, CO 80208 USA

Keyword(s): executive functions; ADHD; autism; conduct disorder; Tourette syndrome; ATTENTION-DEFICIT DISORDER; FRONTAL-LOBE DYSFUNCTION; CARD SORTING TEST; OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER; LA-TOURETTES SYNDROME; LEARNING-DISABLED CHILDREN; STIMULUS OVER-SELECTIVITY; CEREBRAL BLOOD-FLOW; HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER; AUTISTIC-CHILDREN

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