Understanding the Role of the Frontoparietal Network in the Development of Executive Function in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Funding Scheme
General Research Fund (RGC)
Funding Amount
HK$1,217,060
Awarded Year
2022
A more detailed awareness of how executive function develops can help clinicians, parents, and carers help those on the autism spectrum
Executive function (EF) skills are crucial for social competence and behavioural flexibility. Understanding EF and underlying brain functioning in autism spectrum disorder is vital for developing effective treatments for autistic individuals. This project explores whether reduced developmental improvements in frontoparietal function in autistic individuals explains their differences in developmental changes in EF compared to those in typically developing individuals. The findings will inform whether interventions targeting the frontoparietal network can potentially improve EF in autistic individuals.
Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. The research team contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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While some studies reveal that age moderates the level of executive function (EF) skills relative to age-expected levels in autism, some controversy remains. This research involves a within-study comparison of developmental changes in EF abilities between autistic and typically developing (TD) individuals to resolve discrepancies in the literature and to identify the best timing and approach for improving EF skills in autistic individuals. It utilizes functional near-infrared spectroscopy to probe developmental differences in frontoparietal activation and connectivity during EF tasks, comparing the neural mechanisms underlying EF development between the two groups.
The project systematically assesses EF to generate findings that clarify some of the controversies in the EF literature in autism and facilitate comparisons of developmental differences associated with various EF skills. This enhanced understanding will be critical for developing effective EF interventions for autistic individuals. Studying both local activation and functional connectivity will help us develop a fuller picture of neural processing during EF tasks in autistic individuals.
Parents of autistic children and adolescents will benefit from a better understanding of typical EF abilities. Lacking this knowledge may make it more difficult for them to comprehend their child's behaviours, which can vary by developmental stage. Developmental psychologists and cognitive neuroscientists will gain insights into the neurodevelopment of EF in autism and its similarities to, and differences from, neurodevelopment in healthy individuals. Also, clinicians working with autistic individuals will better understand the mechanisms underlying core autistic symptoms.
Selected Publications
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