Dimensions of Self-Reported Driving Difficulty in Autistic and Non-Autistic Adults and their Relationship with Autistic Traits

A survey asked autistic and non-autistic people about the driving difficulties they experience and their autistic traits. Principle components analysis was used to identify how reported difficulties clustered together in each group, and regression was used to determine which subscales of the Autism Spectrum Quotient predict these factors. For autistic drivers three factors of driving difficulty emerged: a Driving Executive factor, predicted by Attention Switching; a Driving Understanding factor, predicted by Communication; and a Driving Social Interaction factor, predicted by Attention Switching. For non-autistic drivers only one Driving General factor emerged, predicted by Communication. This suggests autistic people may experience at least three distinct domains of difficulty when driving which may relate to their particular profile of autistic features.

The use of a tablet-based app for investigating the influence of autistic and ADHD traits on performance in a complex drawing task

This paper describes a smart tablet-based drawing app to digitally record participants’ engagement with the Rey-Osterrieth complex figure (ROCF) task, a well-characterised perceptual memory task that assesses local and global memory. Digitisation of the tasks allows for improved ecological validity, especially in children attracted to tablet devices. Further, digital translation of the tasks affords new measures, including accuracy and computation of the fine motor control kinematics employed to carry out the drawing Here, we report a feasibility study to test the relationship between two neurodevelopmental conditions: autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The smart tablet app was employed with 39 adult participants (18-35) characterised for autistic and ADHD traits, and scored using the ROCF perceptual and organisational scoring systems. Trait scores and conditions were predictor variables in linear regression models. Positive correlations were found between the attention-to-detail, attention-switching and communication subscales of the autistic trait questionnaire and organisational scores on the ROCF task. These findings suggest that autistic traits might be linked to differential performance on the ROCF task. Novelty and future applications of the app are discussed.

Visual attention and inhibitory control in children, teenagers and adults with autism without intellectual disability: results of oculomotor tasks from a 2-year longitudinal follow-up study (InFoR)

Background Inhibitory control and attention processing atypicalities are implicated in various diseases, including autism spectrum disorders (ASD). These cognitive functions can be tested by using visually guided saccade-based paradigms in children, adolescents and adults to determine the time course of such disorders. Methods In this study, using Gap, Step, Overlap and Antisaccade tasks, we analyzed the oculomotor behavior of 82 children, teenagers and adults with high functioning ASD and their peer typically developing (TD) controls in a two-year follow-up study under the auspices of the InFoR-Autism project. Analysis of correlations between oculomotors task measurements and diagnostic assessment of attentional (ADHD-RS and ADHD comorbidity indices) and executive functioning (BRIEF scales) were conducted in order to evaluate their relationship with the oculomotor performance of participants with ASD. Results As indicated by the presence of a Gap and Overlap effects in all age groups, the oculomotor performances of ASD participants showed a preserved capability in overt attention switching. In contrast, the difference in performances of ASD participants in the Antisaccade task, compared to their TD peers, indicated an atypical development of inhibition and executive functions. From correlation analysis between our oculomotor data and ADHD comorbidity index, and scores of attention and executive function difficulties, our findings support the hypothesis that a specific dysfunction of inhibition skills occurs in ASD participants that is independent of the presence of ADHD comorbidity. Limitations These include the relatively small sample size of the ASD group over the study’s two-year period, the absence of an ADHD-only control group and the evaluation of a TD control group solely at the study’s inception. Conclusions Children and teenagers with ASD have greater difficulty in attention switching and inhibiting prepotent stimuli. Adults with ASD can overcome these difficulties, but, similar to teenagers and children with ASD, they make more erroneous and anticipatory saccades and display a greater trial-to-trial variability in all oculomotor tasks compared to their peers. Our results are indicative of a developmental delay in the maturation of executive and attentional functioning in ASD and of a specific impairment in inhibitory control.

The Role of Intelligence Profiles and Executive Functions (Selective Attention and Switching) in Predicting Creativity Components

Introduction: In recent decades, researchers in the field of creativity, have become interested in recognizing the factors associated with the growth and development of creativity in children. Therefore, the purpose of this descriptive, correlational study is to detect the role of intelligence profiles and executive functions (selective attention, switching) in predicting creativity components. Materials and Methods: The statistical population included kids aged 13-15 years living in Isfahan City, Iran in 2015, and so 150 kids were selected by purposive sampling method. The study data were collected using the Delis–Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS) CW simple Stroop test, Gardner’s multiple intelligence questionnaire, and Torrance’s creativity questionnaire, and analyzed by simultaneous multiple regression analysis and the Pearson correlation method in SPSS V. 22. Results: There were significant positive relationships between intrapersonal intelligence and fluency component, as well as, between logical-mathematical intelligence and flexibility component. The results also showed a significant positive relationship between bodily- kinesthetic intelligence and naturalist intelligence with the originality component. There were positive and significant relationships between logical-mathematical, bodily-kinesthetic, intrapersonal, and naturalist intelligence with the elaboration component, as well as, between the selective attention and the fluency component. Conclusion: The characteristics of intelligence and selective attention can predict the components of creativity

Relationship between Parental Autistic Traits and Parenting Difficulties in a Japanese Community Sample

Background: Previous studies have suggested an association between higher levels of parental autistic traits and negative aspects of parenting; however, the domain of autistic traits specifically associated with parenting difficulties has not been investigated yet. Moreover, it remains to be determined whether this association exists even after controlling for children’s characteristics.Aims: This study examined the relationship between each domain of parental autistic traits and parenting difficulties after controlling for children’s characteristics in a Japanese community sample.Methods and Procedures: Surveys were administered to 1,373 Japanese adults who were parents to children in kindergartens, nursery schools, and elementary schools. Outcomes and Results: The results showed that parents with higher levels of autistic traits had more parenting difficulties. Even after controlling for children’s sex, age, and emotional/behavioral problems, paternal impaired communication and maternal poor attention switching, impaired communication, and lack of imagination related to higher parenting difficulties, while a higher maternal level of attention to detail was associated with lower difficulties in parenting. Conclusions and Implications: The findings of this study highlight the importance of focusing on parental autistic traits and providing appropriate parenting support considering these traits.

EEG Alpha Power and Pupil Diameter Reflect Endogenous Auditory Attention Switching and Listening Effort

Auditory attention describes a listeners focus on an acoustic source while they ignore other competing sources that might be present. In an environment with multiple talkers and background noise (i.e. the cocktail party effect), auditory attention can be difficult, requiring the listener to expend measurable cognitive effort. A listener will naturally interrupt sustained attention on a source when switching towards another source during conversation. This change in attention is potentially even more taxing than maintaining sustained attention due to the limits of human working memory, and this additional effort required has not been well studied. In this work, we evaluated an attention decoder algorithm for detecting the change in attention and investigated cognitive effort expended during attentional switching and sustained attention. Two variants of endogenous attention switching were explored: the switches either had in-the-moment decision making or a pre-defined attentional switch time. A least-squares, EEG-based, attention decoding algorithm achieved 64.1% accuracy with a 5-second correlation window and illustrated smooth transitions in the attended talker prediction through switches in sustained attention at approximately half of the analysis window size (2.2 seconds). The expended listening effort, as measured by simultaneous electroencephalography (EEG) and pupillometry, was also a strong indicator of switching. Specifically, centrotemporal alpha power [F(2, 18) = 7.473, P = 0.00434] and mean pupil diameter [F(2, 18) = 9.159, P = 0.0018] were significantly different for trials that contained a switch in comparison to sustained trials. We also found that relative attended and ignored talker locations modulate the EEG alpha topographic response. This alpha lateralization was found to be impacted by the interaction between experimental condition and whether the measure was computed before or after the switch [F(2,18) = 3.227, P = 0.0634]. These results suggest that expended listening effort is a promising feature that should be pursued in a decoding context, in addition to speech and location-based features.

Factor structure of the complex preparedness of young football players 12-13 years old

Purpose: to determine the factor structure of the complex readiness of young football players 12-13 years old based on the level of development of physical qualities, mastery of technical elements and indicators of psychophysiological functions. Material and methods. Participants: 48 football players 12-13 years old participated in the study of the sports club “Kolos”, Kharkiv, Ukraine. All children started to play football in the age of 10-11, that is, the duration of football classes was 1-2 years. Research methods. The following data were determined: indicators of the level of physical preparedness, indicators of the level of technical preparedness, indicators of the psychophysiological functional state. The structure of complex preparedness was determined using factor analysis (SPSS-17, Dimension Redaction - Factor; Extraction Method: Principal Component Analysis; Varimax with Kaiser Normalization). Results. In the structure of complex training of young football players aged 12-13, 4 main factors were identified: 1 - "Speed-power and technical training" (30.36% of the total dispersion); 2 - "Attention switching" (20.7% of the total variance); 3 - "Sensitivity of the nervous system" (15.4% of the total dispersion); 4 - "Mobility of the nervous system" (13.9% of the total dispersion). Conclusions. Speed and strength, technical training in combination with switching of attention and mobility of the nervous system are dominated in the structure of complex training of young football players aged 12-13. The obtained data create conditions for recommendations in the training process of young football players aged 12-13 increase the number of exercises that require the development of speed and strength, technical training in combination with exercises to switch attention.

Nicotine smoking is associated with impaired cognitive performance in Pakistani young people

Nicotine smoking is the most common mode of tobacco smoking among young people. It affects the areas of the brain associated with memory, attention, and learning. This study has investigated the effect of nicotine smoking on cognitive performance. One hundred male volunteers (50 nicotine smokers and 50 nonsmokers) aged 18–30 years with similar socioeconomic backgrounds were recruited for this study. Clinical history of participants was obtained using a questionnaire. Their brain health and handedness were determined using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory (EHI), respectively. The dependent variables examined in the study were attention-switching tasks (AST), pattern recognition memory (PRM), and choice reaction time (CRT). These parameters were assessed using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Automated Battery (CANTAB). The average ages of participating smokers and nonsmokers were 24.02 ± 3.41 years (mean ± standard deviation) and 22.68 ± 1.87 years, respectively. MMSE and EHI scores of smokers were 28.42 ± 1.09 and 99.75 ± 1.77, respectively; for nonsmokers, these scores were 28.54 ± 1.34 and 98 ± 1.91, respectively. The mean score for AST correct latency/delay was significantly higher (p = 0.050) in smokers (620.26 ± 142.03) than in nonsmokers (570.11 ± 108.39). The percentage of correct AST trials was significantly higher (p = 0.000) in nonsmokers (96.95 ± 2.18) than in smokers (83.75 ± 11.22). The PRM percent correct were significantly higher (p = 0.000) of nonsmokers (93.42 ± 8.34) than of smokers (79.75 ± 13.44). The mean correct latency for CRT was significantly higher (p = 0.009) in smokers (509.87 ± 129.83) than in nonsmokers (455.20 ± 65.73). From this data, it can be concluded that nicotine smoking is linked with impaired cognitive functions in smokers.

Altered Glutamate and Glutamine Kinetics in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Objectives Recent studies suggest that glutamate (GLU) signaling abnormalities are involved in the etiology of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), suggesting perturbations in GLU and glutamine (GLN) metabolism. Although GLU and GLN plasma concentrations have been linked to cognitive decline, the actual production of GLU and GLN have never been measured in ASD and linked to ASD severity score and neurocognitive and mood changes. Methods 19 young adults with high functioning ASD (age 24.3 ± 1.0y, Autism Quotient (AQ): 31.4 ± 1.7), and 46 control subjects (age 23.4 ± 0.3y)) were enrolled. ASD severity and subscores as well as cognitive function and mood were assessed (MOCA, TMT, word fluency, Stroop, HADS). Postabsorptive amino acid kinetics (production of GLU and GLN, and its interconversion rates (GLU > >GLN and GLN > >GLU)) were measured by pulse stable isotope administration and subsequent blood sampling for 4 hours. Plasma amino acid enrichments and concentrations were analyzed by LC-MS/MS. Stats were done by ANCOVA, post hoc analysis and Pearson correlation. Significance was set at p < 0.05. Results No differences were present in word fluency, but higher values in ASD for TMTb (p = 0.066), depression (p = 0.0004), anxiety (p = 0.0006) and lower values for MOCA (0.0054). The ASD group was characterized by lower plasma GLN and GLU concentrations (p < 0.05). Although the production rates of GLN and GLU were not different between the groups, in ASD GLN > >GLU was higher (p = 0.0018) and GLU > >GLN lower (p = 0.016) and a higher GLN clearance rate (p = 0.006). Significant relationships were found in the ASD group between several GLU and GLN kinetic markers and AQ subscores (e.g., attention to detail, attention switching and/or communication) and word fluency (p < 0.05). Conclusions Disturbances in GLN and GLU metabolism in ASD are associated with changes in ASD subscores but less with neurocognitive dysfunction or mood changes. Funding Sources None.