Background
Impaired neuropsychological test performance, especially on tests of executive function
and attention, is often seen in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders
(ASD). Structures involved in fronto-striatal circuitry, such as the caudate nucleus,
may support these cognitive abilities. However, few studies have examined caudate
volumes specifically in children with ASD, or correlated caudate volumes to cognitive
ability.
Methods
Neuropsychological test scores and caudate volumes of children with ASD were compared
to those of children with bipolar disorder (BD) and of typically developing (TD) children.
The relationship between test performance and caudate volumes was analyzed.
Results
The ASD group displayed larger right and left caudate volumes, and modest executive
deficits, compared to TD controls. While caudate volume inversely predicted performance
on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test in all participants, it differentially predicted
performance on measures of attention across the ASD, BD and TD groups.
Conclusions
Larger caudate volumes were related to impaired problem solving. On a test of attention,
larger left caudate volumes predicted increased impulsivity and more omission errors
in the ASD group as compared to the TD group, however smaller volume predicted poorer
discriminant responding as compared to the BD group.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 04, 2006
Accepted:
March 22,
2006
Received in revised form:
December 15,
2005
Received:
July 29,
2005
Identification
Copyright
© 2006 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
