Selective problems in executive function in adults with ID : The Betula Database

• Aim: To compare executive function in adults with ID to a group matched on chronological age, sex, type of education and years of education. Method: In the Betula database, a group of adults with ID (N = 46) was defined from measures of verbal and nonverbal IQ. A control group, with two people for every person with ID (N = 92), was chosen by matching on the following criteria in order of priority: IQ higher than 85, age, sex, sample, level of education and years of edu- cation. Three tasks of executive function were included on two occasions, with five years in between testing sessions: the Tower of Hanoi, dual task versions of word recall and verbal fluency. Results: Adults with ID showed significant impairments on verbal fluency and on the dual task word recall task (at encod- ing but not at recall). There were no group differences on the Tower of Hanoi. No significant differences between the two test occasions were found. Conclusion: The dual task results imply that the adults with ID were more sen- sitive to strategy interruptions at encoding, but that dividing attention at recall did not have such detrimental effects. The Tower of Hanoi is a complex task that is meant to assess planning, but has also been associated with inhibition. Adults with ID seem, therefore, not to have marked difficulties with planning and/or inhibition.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Psykologi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Psychology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

cognition

executive functions

Betula

Psychology

Psykologi

Psychology

psykologi

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