L'association entre la théorie de l'esprit, la fonction exécutive et les symptômes du "trouble du spectre de l'autisme"

Aperçu: G.M.

On a fortement soutenu que les processus cognitifs atypiques dans le "trouble du spectre de l'autisme" (TSA) contribuent à l'expression de symptômes comportementaux.  

L'étude actuelle a étudié les capacités cognitives de 100 adolescents avec un diagnostic de TSA (âge moyen = 15 ans et 6 mois), en utilisant 10 tâches pour mesurer les domaines de la théorie de l'esprit (ToM) et de la fonction exécutive (EF). 

Les chercheurs ont constaté que la capacité de la Théorie de l'esprit (ToM) était associée à la fois aux symptômes de la communication sociale et aux comportements répétitifs et restreints (CRR). EF était un corrélat de ToM mais n'avait aucune association directe avec l'expression de symptôme rapportée par les parents.

Les données suggèrent qu'à l'adolescence, la capacité ToM, mais pas EF, est directement liée à l'expression du symptôme autistique.  

Autism Res. 2017 Sep 25. doi: 10.1002/aur.1873

The association between theory of mind, executive function, and the symptoms of autism spectrum disorder

Jones CRG¹, Simonoff E², Baird G³, Pickles A⁴, Marsden AJS⁵, Tregay J⁶, Happé F⁷, Charman T⁸.

Author information

1

School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.

2

Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, London, UK.

3

Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.

4

Biostatistics Department and Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, London, UK.

5

Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.

6

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK.

7

SGDP Research Centre King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, London, UK.

8

Department of Psychology, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, London, UK.

Abstract

It has been strongly argued that atypical cognitive processes in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) contribute to the expression of behavioural symptoms. Comprehensive investigation of these claims has been limited by small and unrepresentative sample sizes and the absence of wide-ranging task batteries. The current study investigated the cognitive abilities of 100 adolescents with ASD (mean age = 15 years 6 months), using 10 tasks to measure the domains of theory of mind (ToM) and executive function (EF). We used structural equation modelling as a statistically robust way of exploring the associations between cognition and parent-reported measures of social communication and restricted and repetitive behaviours (RRBs). We found that ToM ability was associated with both social communication symptoms and RRBs. EF was a correlate of ToM but had no direct association with parent-reported symptom expression. Our data suggest that in adolescence ToM ability, but not EF, is directly related to autistic symptom expression. Autism Res 2017. © 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

LAY SUMMARY:

The behaviours that are common to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been linked to differences in thinking ability. We assessed autistic adolescents and found that social communication difficulties and the presence of restricted and repetitive behaviours related to difficulties in understanding other peoples' minds (theory of mind). In contrast, these behaviours were not associated with the general thinking abilities involved in planning and executing tasks (executive function).

© 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID:28945319

DOI:10.1002/aur.1873