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Executive functions in individuals with Williams syndrome
D Menghini1, F Addona, F Costanzo
1Children's Hospital Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy.
Journal of Intellectual Disability Research : JIDR
|June 12, 2010
Summary
Individuals with Williams syndrome (WS) exhibit working memory (WM) and executive function deficits, particularly in attention and planning. However, verbal categorization and shifting abilities were relatively preserved in WS compared to typically developing children.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Genetics
Background:
- Williams syndrome (WS) is a genetic disorder associated with cognitive and behavioral differences.
- Executive functions and working memory (WM) are critical cognitive domains often impacted in neurodevelopmental disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate working memory (WM) and executive function capacities in individuals with Williams syndrome (WS).
- To compare the cognitive profiles of individuals with WS to mental-age matched typically developing (TD) children.
Main Methods:
- Administered a comprehensive battery of tasks assessing WM, attention, memory, planning, categorization, shifting, and inhibition.
- Included 15 individuals with WS and 15 TD children, matched for mental age.
Main Results:
- Individuals with WS demonstrated significant deficits in selective and sustained attention, short-term memory, WM, planning, and inhibition across verbal and visual-spatial modalities.
- Performance on categorization and shifting tasks was relatively unimpaired when verbal materials were used.
Conclusions:
- Findings highlight specific qualitative aspects of cognitive development in WS.
- Results have potential clinical implications for understanding and supporting individuals with WS.
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