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Brief Report: Executive Functioning in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Gender Comparison of Response Inhibition

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Abstract

Although autism spectrum disorders (ASD) affect more males than females, it is not clear whether neurobehavioural correlates of ASD are equivalent across genders. This study examined gender differences in neurobehavioural functioning in boys and girls with ASD. Participants were males with ASD (n = 10), females with ASD (n = 13), typically developing males (n = 8), and typically developing females (n = 14). Each completed the stop task, a common measure of response inhibition. Females with ASD demonstrated a significant increase in stopping time (indicating poorer inhibition). By contrast, no response inhibition impairments were evident among males with ASD. Females with ASD may have a different neurobehavioural profile, and therefore different clinical needs, when compared with males with ASD.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Developmental Psychiatry and Psychology, School of Psychology and Psychiatry, Monash University, 270 Ferntree Gully Rd, Nottinghill, VIC, 3168, Australia

    Janine M. Lemon, Belinda Gargaro, Peter G. Enticott & Nicole J. Rinehart

  2. Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, School of Psychology and Psychiatry, Monash University and the Alfred, Commercial Rd, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia

    Peter G. Enticott

Authors
  1. Janine M. Lemon
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  2. Belinda Gargaro
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  3. Peter G. Enticott
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  4. Nicole J. Rinehart
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Correspondence to Nicole J. Rinehart.

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Lemon, J.M., Gargaro, B., Enticott, P.G. et al. Brief Report: Executive Functioning in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Gender Comparison of Response Inhibition. J Autism Dev Disord 41, 352–356 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-010-1039-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-010-1039-2

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