Executive function, repetitive behaviour and restricted interests in neurodevelopmental disorders.

Area of Science:

• Neurodevelopmental disorders
• Behavioral neuroscience
• Genetics

Background:

• Individuals with genetic syndromes exhibit distinct patterns of repetitive behaviors and restricted interests (RRBs).
• The executive dysfunction hypothesis posits that executive function impairments drive RRBs in autistic (AUT) individuals, distinct from social and communication deficits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize executive function (EF) behaviors in Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS), fragile X syndrome (FXS), and Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (RTS).
• To investigate the relationship between EF behaviors and autistic traits across individuals with CdLS, FXS, RTS, and AUT.

Main Methods:

• Carer-reported data on EF behaviors and social communication were collected using standardized questionnaires.
• Analyses included 25 individuals with CdLS, 25 with FXS, 25 with RTS, and 25 AUT individuals, matched for age and adaptive abilities.

Main Results:

• All groups demonstrated significant impairments in EF behaviors compared to typically developing peers, with no inter-group differences.
• Specific EF behaviors predicted RRBs in the syndrome groups (CdLS, FXS, RTS), but no such associations were observed in the AUT group.

Conclusions:

• Findings highlight syndrome-specific profiles of executive function and their relationship with RRBs.
• Interventions targeting EF behaviors and/or RRBs should consider these syndrome-related differences.