1 of 1

Sex Does Not Significantly Influence Executive Function Performance in ASD

Methods:

    • Sample:
      • 55 participants (F = 22, M = 33; ages 8-16)
      • Each participant received DSM-V diagnosis of ASD informed by ADOS-2 and ADI-R
    • Measures:
      • Wisconsin Card Sorting Task (WCST)
      • Developmental Neuropsychological Assessment- Second Edition (NEPSY-II) – Inhibition Subtest
      • Test of Verbal Conceptualization and Fluency (TVCF) – Classification Subtest
    • Analysis:
      • T-tests to assess sex differences in performance on measures of executive functioning (EF)

Results:

No significant differences in performance between male and female participants except for WCST nonperseverative errors (p = 0.02; t = 2.4; d = 0.66). Where the female group (M Standard Score = 108) out-performed the male group (M Standard Score = 95)

Discussion:

Contrary to past literature suggesting more cognitive deficits in females with ASD1, present results suggest that females with ASD do not demonstrate more executive functioning impairment than their male counterparts.

​

1Rivet, T. T., & Matson, J. L. (2011). Review of gender differences in core symptomatology in autism spectrum disorders. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 5(3), 957976.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2010.12.003

​

​

Abbey Robbins, Katherine Brogan, Yelena Markiv, Gabrielle Pasturel, Rachel Murley, Carly Demopoulos

* p < 0.05