Emerging Executive Functioning and Motor Development in Infants at High and Low Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Autism Spectrum Disorder Research

Background:

• Executive functioning (EF) deficits are noted in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by age 3.
• The early emergence and developmental trajectory of EF deficits in ASD, particularly before age 3, remain unclear.
• The role of motor skill difficulties in relation to EF deficits in ASD has not been systematically investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the developmental trajectory of EF in infants with high (HR) and low (LR) familial risk for ASD.
• To examine the associations between motor skills, diagnostic group, and EF performance in these infants.
• To understand the early emergence of EF differences in infants at risk for ASD.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal study of 186 HR and 76 LR infants assessed at 12 and 24 months.
• Direct assessments of EF (A-not-B task), motor skills (Fine and Gross Motor), and cognitive ability.
• ASD diagnosis at 24 months using DSM-IV-TR criteria, categorizing infants into HR-ASD, HR-Negative, and LR-Negative groups.

Main Results:

• HR-ASD and HR-Negative infants showed less EF improvement over time compared to LR-Negative infants.
• No group differences in EF at 12 months, but at 24 months, HR groups performed worse than LR groups (controlling for covariates).
• HR-ASD group specifically performed worse on EF reversal trials at 24 months; motor skills were associated with group and EF performance.

Conclusions:

• Infants at high risk for ASD exhibit altered EF development trajectories.
• Motor skill deficits may play a significant role in the observed EF differences in infants at risk for ASD.
• Early motor skill assessment could be valuable for understanding EF development in the context of ASD risk.