Executive functioning: a mediator between sensory processing and behavior in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Year: 2018
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Autism Spectrum Disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by sensory processing and behavioral abnormalities and by executive dysfunction. In the present study, we investigated the relationship between sensory processing, behavior and executive functioning in a sample of 79 children and adolescents with ages between four and sixteen years-old and diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Additionally, we studied the role of executive functioning as a mediator between sensory processing abnormalities and behavioral problems. Participant’s caregivers filled the Child Sensory Profile 2 to obtain a measure of sensory processing abnormalities. Child Behavior Checklist was used to assess behavioral problems. An autism phenotype ontology approach was used to select items from Child Behavior Checklist which were able to assess executive functioning patterns. Results showed a positive and significant correlation between the three variables - sensory processing, behavior and executive function. Executive functioning was a mediator in the relationship between sensory processing abnormalities and behavioral problems. Our findings highlight the need to tackle executive functioning and sensory processing problems in Autism Spectrum Disorder interventions.
Author: Campos, Vânia Catarina Castro
Language: English
Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7000348570