Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 12, 2025

Using the Visual World Paradigm to Study Sentence Comprehension in Mandarin-Speaking Children with Autism
Published on: October 3, 2018
Autism Predicts Performance on iPad-Administered Tests of Executive Functioning in Preschoolers in Mainland China
Vanessa Zhou1, Jingyu Xu2, Xue Li3
1Department of Clinical Psychology, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, WA, USA. zhouv@spu.edu.
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether autism diagnostic status (versus neurotypical status) predicts performances on iPad-delivered measures of executive functioning (EF) in mainland Chinese preschoolers. The present study included 21 autistic preschoolers and 28 age- and gender-matched neurotypical preschoolers aged 3-6 years old. Participants were administered tests of visuospatial working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility using the Early Years Toolbox. Results showed that autism predicted poorer performances on tests of working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility in Chinese preschoolers. This study provides support for difficulties with visuospatial working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility in autistic preschoolers in mainland China.

