An experimental study of executive function and social impairment in Cornelia de Lange syndrome

Lisa Nelson, Hayley Crawford, Donna Reid, Joanna Moss, Christopher Oliver

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)
139 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background: Extreme shyness and social anxiety is reported to be characteristic of adolescents and adults with Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS); however, the nature of these characteristics is not well documented. In this study, we develop and apply an experimental assessment of social anxiety in a group of adolescents and adults with CdLS to determine the nature of the social difficulties and whether they are related to impairments in executive functioning.

Methods: A familiar and unfamiliar examiner separately engaged in socially demanding tasks comprising three experimental conditions with a group of individuals with CdLS (n = 25; % male = 44; mean age = 22.16; SD = 8.81) and a comparable group of individuals with Down syndrome (DS; n = 20; % male = 35; mean age = 24.35; SD = 5.97). Behaviours indicative of social anxiety were coded. The Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Preschool version, an informant measure of executive function, was completed by participants’ caregivers.

Results: Significantly less verbalisation was observed in the CdLS group than the DS group in conditions requiring the initiation of speech. In the CdLS group, impairments in verbalisation were not associated with a greater degree of intellectual disability but were significantly correlated with impairments in both planning and working memory. This association was not evident in the DS group.

Conclusions: Adolescents and adults with CdLS have a specific difficulty with the initiation of speech when social demands are placed upon them. This impairment in verbalisation may be underpinned by specific cognitive deficits, although further research is needed to investigate this fully.
Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Volume9
Issue number33
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 11 Sept 2017

Keywords

  • executive function
  • social anxiety
  • Cornelia de Lange syndrome
  • Down syndrome

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'An experimental study of executive function and social impairment in Cornelia de Lange syndrome'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this