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Neurocognitive predictors of social and communicative developmental trajectories in preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Munson, J; Faja, S; Meltzoff, A; Abbott, R; Dawson, G
Published in: J Int Neuropsychol Soc
November 2008

Currently, the heterogeneity in the developmental trajectories of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is poorly understood. Preschool children with ASD participating in a longitudinal study received a battery of neurocognitive tasks that measured the learning of reward associations (Lrn-Rew), spatial working memory (SpatWM), and imitation from memory and novelty preference (Mem/Nov), as well as a measure of nonverbal problem-solving ability (NVDQ). Growth curve analyses via HLM were used to predict the variability in growth rates between age 4 to age 6.5 in Vineland Socialization and Communication scores. Individual differences in both Lrn-Rew and Mem/Nov were significantly related to Socialization and Communication growth rates above and beyond NVDQ, whereas SpatWM was not. Thus, specific aspects of neurocognitive functioning appear to be important predictors of developmental variability during the preschool years in children with ASD. We speculate that these findings support the combined role of ventromedial prefrontal and medial temporal lobe systems in the early pathogenesis of ASD and may be useful in predicting developmental trajectory. The benefits and challenges of assessing specific neurocognitive functions in children with autism is discussed with regard to general cognitive/developmental ability and the behavioral requirements of most assessment settings.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Int Neuropsychol Soc

DOI

EISSN

1469-7661

Publication Date

November 2008

Volume

14

Issue

6

Start / End Page

956 / 966

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Space Perception
  • Social Behavior
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Photic Stimulation
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Models, Psychological
  • Memory
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
 

Citation

APA
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ICMJE
MLA
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Munson, J., Faja, S., Meltzoff, A., Abbott, R., & Dawson, G. (2008). Neurocognitive predictors of social and communicative developmental trajectories in preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders. J Int Neuropsychol Soc, 14(6), 956–966. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1355617708081393
Munson, Jeffrey, Susan Faja, Andrew Meltzoff, Robert Abbott, and Geraldine Dawson. “Neurocognitive predictors of social and communicative developmental trajectories in preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders.J Int Neuropsychol Soc 14, no. 6 (November 2008): 956–66. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1355617708081393.
Munson J, Faja S, Meltzoff A, Abbott R, Dawson G. Neurocognitive predictors of social and communicative developmental trajectories in preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders. J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2008 Nov;14(6):956–66.
Munson, Jeffrey, et al. “Neurocognitive predictors of social and communicative developmental trajectories in preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders.J Int Neuropsychol Soc, vol. 14, no. 6, Nov. 2008, pp. 956–66. Pubmed, doi:10.1017/S1355617708081393.
Munson J, Faja S, Meltzoff A, Abbott R, Dawson G. Neurocognitive predictors of social and communicative developmental trajectories in preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders. J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2008 Nov;14(6):956–966.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Int Neuropsychol Soc

DOI

EISSN

1469-7661

Publication Date

November 2008

Volume

14

Issue

6

Start / End Page

956 / 966

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Space Perception
  • Social Behavior
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Photic Stimulation
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Models, Psychological
  • Memory
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female