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Atypical recruitment of medial prefrontal cortex in autism spectrum disorders : an fMRI study of two executive function tasks . Recent studies have suggested an uneven profile of executive dysfunction in autism spectrum disorders ( ASD ) . For example , some authors have reported deficits on newly developed tests of executive function sensitive to rostral prefrontal function , despite spared , or even superior , performance on other tests . We investigated the performance of a group of high-functioning participants with ASD ( N=15 ) and an age- and IQ-matched control group ( N=18 ) on two executive function tests , whilst undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging ( fMRI ) . Behaviourally , there were no significant differences between the two groups . In a classical test of executive function ( random response generation ) , BOLD signal differed between the groups in the cerebellum but not in the frontal lobes . However , on a new test of executive function ( selection between stimulus-oriented and stimulus-independent thought ) , the ASD group exhibited significantly greater signal-change in medial rostral prefrontal cortex ( especially Brodmann Area 10 ) in the comparison of stimulus-oriented versus stimulus-independent attention . In addition , the new test ( but not the classical test ) provided evidence for abnormal functional organisation of medial prefrontal cortex in ASD . These results underline the heterogeneity of different tests of executive function , and suggest that executive functioning in ASD is associated with task-specific functional change .
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Intervention_Physical
fMRI
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Intervention_Physical
two executive function tests
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Intervention_Physical
undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging ( fMRI ) .
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Intervention_Physical
classical test of executive function
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Intervention_Physical
new test of executive function
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Outcome_Physical
BOLD signal
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Outcome_Physical
signal-change in medial rostral prefrontal cortex ( especially Brodmann Area 10 )
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Outcome_Physical
abnormal functional organisation of medial prefrontal cortex in ASD
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Participant_Condition
autism spectrum disorders :
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Participant_Condition
autism spectrum disorders ( ASD ) .
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Participant_Sample-size
N=15
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Participant_Age
and
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Participant_Sample-size
N=18
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Participant_Condition
ASD .
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Participant_Condition
ASD