Autism spectrum disorder

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder often exhibit cognitive deficits that reflect underlying abnormalities in brain structure and function^1,2. Our recommended test battery for research of Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) assesses the core domains impaired in ASD, as well as those likely to be affected by novel interventions. 

The tests in this battery are sensitive to cognitive dysfunction across the spread of disease severities (including high-functioning autism) and across age ranges (childhood, adolescent, and adult ASD)^3-6.

These tests have also been shown to discriminate neuropsychological differences between ASD and other common comorbid conditions, such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and depression⁷.

Measures

• Executive function
• Planning
• Episodic memory
• Processing speed

CANTAB Tests

• Reaction Time (RTI): 3 minutes
• Paired Associates Learning (PAL): 8 minutes
• Spatial Working Memory (SWM): 4 minutes
• One Touch Stockings of Cambridge (OTS): 10 minutes
• Multitasking Test (MTT): 8 minutes
• Emotion Recognition Task (ERT): 6 minutes
• Match to Sample Visual Search (MTS): 7 minutes

Research

Research has demonstrated that the Spatial Working Memory (SWM) test is highly sensitive to cognitive dysfunction in autism (including higher functioning autism), highlighting that deficits in this cognitive process are prevalent within individuals with autism.¹

_{Steel et al., (2007)}

Key References

Kenworthy L, Yerys BE, Anthony LG, Wallace GL. Understanding executive control in autism spectrum disorders in the lab and in the real world. Neuropsychol Rev. 2008 Dec;18(4):320-38.

Buescher AV, Cidav Z, Knapp M, Mandell DS. Costs of autism spectrum disorders in the United Kingdom and the United States. JAMA Pediatr. 2014 Aug;168(8):721-8.

Parellada M, Penzol MJ, Pina L, Moreno C, González-Vioque E, Zalsman G, Arango C. The neurobiology of autism spectrum disorders. Eur Psychiatry. 2014 Jan;29(1):11-9.

Matsuura N, Ishitobi M, Arai S, Kawamura K, Asano M, Inohara K, Narimoto T, Wada Y, Hiratani M, Kosaka H. Distinguishing between autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder by using behavioral checklists, cognitive assessments, and neuropsychological test battery. Asian J Psychiatr. 2014 Dec;12:50-7.

Ozonoff S, Cook I, Coon H, Dawson G, Joseph RM, Klin A, McMahon WM, Minshew N, Munson JA, Pennington BF, Rogers SJ, Spence MA, Tager-Flusberg H, Volkmar FR, Wrathall D. Performance on Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery subtests sensitive to frontal lobe function in people with autistic disorder: evidence from the Collaborative Programs of Excellence in Autism network. J Autism Dev Disord. 2004 Apr;34(2):139-50.

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1. _{Parellada M, Penzol MJ, Pina L, Moreno C, González-Vioque E, Zalsman G, Arango C. The neurobiology of autism spectrum disorders. Eur Psychiatry. 2014 Jan;29(1):11-9.}
2. _{Kenworthy L, Yerys BE, Anthony LG, Wallace GL. Understanding executive control in autism spectrum disorders in the lab and in the real world. Neuropsychol Rev. 2008 Dec;18(4):320-38.}
3. _{Chien YL, Gau SS, Shang CY, Chiu YN, Tsai WC, Wu YY. Visual memory and sustained attention impairment in youths with autism spectrum disorders. Psychol Med. 2015 Aug;45(11):2263-73.}
4. _{Van Eylen L, Boets B, Steyaert J, Wagemans J, Noens I. Executive functioning in autism spectrum disorders: influence of task and sample characteristics and relation to symptom severity. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2015 Feb 20. [Epub ahead of print]}
5. _{Jiang YV, Capistrano CG, Palm BE. Spatial working memory in children with high-functioning autism: intact configural processing but impaired capacity. J Abnorm Psychol. 2014 Feb;123(1):248-57.}
6. _{Ozonoff S, Cook I, Coon H, Dawson G, Joseph RM, Klin A, McMahon WM, Minshew N, Munson JA, Pennington BF, Rogers SJ, Spence MA, Tager-Flusberg H, Volkmar FR, Wrathall D. Performance on Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery subtests sensitive to frontal lobe function in people with autistic disorder: evidence from the Collaborative Programs of Excellence in Autism network. J Autism Dev Disord. 2004 Apr;34(2):139-50.}
7. _{Matsuura N, Ishitobi M, Arai S, Kawamura K, Asano M, Inohara K, Narimoto T, Wada Y, Hiratani M, Kosaka H. Distinguishing between autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder by using behavioral checklists, cognitive assessments, and neuropsychological test battery. Asian J Psychiatr. 2014 Dec;12:50-7.}