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Brief Report: Associations Between Cognitive Control Processes and Traits of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Anxiety in Children at Elevated and Typical Familial Likelihood for ASD

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Abstract

Shared difficulties with cognitive control may play a role in co-occurring mental health problems frequently observed in autistic children. We investigated how different cognitive control processes (inhibitory control, conflict resolution, cognitive flexibility) associated with traits of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and anxiety in 7-year-old children at elevated (n = 44) and typical (n = 37) familial likelihood for ASD. Poor inhibitory control was associated with higher ADHD traits. Better inhibitory control and poorer cognitive flexibility predicted higher anxiety traits. Cognitive control processes were not associated dimensionally with autistic traits, though better conflict resolution predicted greater likelihood of meeting diagnostic criteria for ASD in categorical analysis. These findings suggest that different cognitive control alterations are associated with ASD, ADHD and anxiety.

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Acknowledgements

We are very grateful for the important contributions BASIS families have made towards this study. The research was supported by the BASIS funding consortium lef by Autistica (www.basisnetwork.org), Autism Speaks, UK Medical Research Council Programme Grants (G0701484 and K021389), as well as support from the Innovative Medicines Initiative Joint Undertaking under grant agreement no. 115300, resources of which are composed of financial contribution from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) and EFPIA companies’ in kind contribution.

The BASIS Team (in alphabetical order): Simon Baron-Cohen, Rachael Bedford, Patrick F Bolton, Susie Chandler, Mayada Elsabbagh, Janice Fernandes, Holly Garwood, Teodora Gliga, Kristelle Hudry, Emily JH Jones, Greg Pasco, Andrew Pickles, Leslie Tucker, Agnes Volein

Author information

Author notes

  1. Mark H. Johnson

    Present address: Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

  2. Elizabeth Shephard

    Present address: Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, University of London, Camberwell, London, UK

  3. Bosiljka Milosavljevic

    Present address: Birkbeck, University of London, Bloomsbury, London, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Priscilla B. G. Godoy & Elizabeth Shephard

  2. Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, Henry Welcome Building, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AF, UK

    Elizabeth Shephard, Bosiljka Milosavljevic & Tony Charman

  3. Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, University of London, Birkbeck, UK

    Bosiljka Milosavljevic & Mark H. Johnson

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  1. Priscilla B. G. Godoy
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  2. Elizabeth Shephard
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  3. Bosiljka Milosavljevic
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  4. Mark H. Johnson
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  5. Tony Charman
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Consortia

The BASIS Team

  • Simon Baron-Cohen
  • , Rachael Bedford
  • , Patrick F. Bolton
  • , Susie Chandler
  • , Mayada Elsabbagh
  • , Janice Fernandes
  • , Holly Garwood
  • , Teodora Gliga
  • , Kristelle Hudry
  • , Emily J. H. Jones
  • , Greg Pasco
  • , Andrew Pickles
  • , Leslie Tucker
  •  & Agnes Volein

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Correspondence to Elizabeth Shephard or Tony Charman.

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The members of The BASIS Team study group are listed in the acknowledgments.

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Godoy, P.B., Shephard, E., Milosavljevic, B. et al. Brief Report: Associations Between Cognitive Control Processes and Traits of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Anxiety in Children at Elevated and Typical Familial Likelihood for ASD. J Autism Dev Disord 51, 3001–3013 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04732-9

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