A bibliometric analysis of executive functions in autism spectrum disorder

Executive Functions Assessment in a Child with Autism: A Pilot Single-Case Study from a Longitudinal and Mixed Methods Approach

Although the literature confirms executive deficits in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that hinder adaptation, evidence-based intervention programs targeting this area are scarce, and even fewer have evaluated their effectiveness.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to assess a pilot program designed to improve the executive functions of a child five years and nine months in age with ASD.

METHODS

To evaluate the effects of the intervention, observational methodology was used, which is considered a mixed method in itself as it integrates both qualitative and quantitative elements in its various phases. Specifically, an idiographic, longitudinal, and multidimensional design was followed. A lag sequential analysis was conducted using GSEQ software Version 5.1, enabling us to study changes in the executive functions of a child before, during, and after the intervention, including whether its effects are sustained over time.

RESULTS

The sequential patterns obtained indicate more appropriate and complex executive functioning after the three-month intervention, specifically increased cognitive flexibility, improved self-regulation, more accurate evaluation, and progress in inhibitory processes. However, these improvements do not persist over time.

CONCLUSION

This study contributes to the scarcely explored field of executive function interventions in children with ASD, although it is necessary to consider the generalization of the results to other contexts, such as family and school, during interaction with peers.

Mapping autism's research landscape: trends in autism screening and its alignment with sustainable development goals

Introduction

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a complex neurodevelopmental syndrome that profoundly affects social interactions, communication, and sensory perception. The research traced the evolution of autism research from 2011-2022, specifically focusing on the screening and diagnosis of children and students.

Methods

Through an analysis of 12,262 publications using the PRISMA framework, bibliographic coupling, science mapping, and citation analysis, this study illuminates the growth trajectory of ASD research and significant disparities in diagnosis and services.

Results

The study indicates an increasing trend in autism research, with a strong representation of female authorship. Open Access journals show a higher average citation impact compared to their closed counterparts. A keyword co-occurrence analysis revealed four central research themes: Child Development and Support Systems, Early Identification and Intervention, Prevalence and Etiology, and Mental Health. The pandemic's onset has prioritized research areas like mental health, telehealth, and service accessibility.

Discussion

Recommendations on a global level stress the importance of developing timely biological markers for ASD, amplifying Disability Inclusion research, and personalizing mental health services to bridge these critical service gaps. These strategies, underpinned by interdisciplinary collaboration and telehealth innovation, particularly in low-resource settings, can offer a roadmap for inclusive, context-sensitive interventions at local levels that directly support SDG3's aim for health and well-being for all.

Bibliometric analysis of research trends of physical activity intervention for autism spectrum disorders

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social impairment, restricted interests, and repetitive stereotyped behaviors. At present, its pathogenesis has not been fully understood. Various methods are used for clinical treatment and intervention, among which physical activity (PA) intervention also has an obvious effect. This study has used bibliometric methods and visual analysis methods to analyze 885 studies of PA intervention in ASD from 2003 to 2022 in the Web of Science (WoS) database in order to provide theoretical support for the follow-up research on the effect of PA with ASD. The main findings of this study are as follows. First, the literature on PA interventions in ASD research showed a growing trend. The leading institution in this field is the University of Delaware, forming a core group of authors represented by authors such as Sean Healy and Carol Curtin et al. Second, the research focus of this research area mainly includes PA interventions for children and adolescents with ASD. PA can improve symptoms such as stereotyped behaviors and motor function in patients with ASD as well as can reduce childhood obesity rates and improve quality of life. Third, skill, youth, prevalence, and meta-analysis systematic reviews were found. It is the long-term concern and focus of researchers. In conclusion, the current research is only a short-term analysis, and it is not possible to verify the long-term effect; thus, future data analysis should evaluate and explore the long-term effects of PA interventions on ASD including cohort and longitudinal study types focused on the rehabilitation of patients with ASD. Moreover, testing the sustainability of benefits for children with ASD and constructing a multidimensional exercise integrated intervention model are the main directions for future research in this field.

Global Trends in Physical-Activity Research of Autism: Bibliometric Analysis Based on the Web of Science Database (1980-2021)

The World Health Organization has identified nervous system diseases as one of the biggest public health problems, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Considering the extensive benefits of physical activity (PA), the literature on the PA research of ASD has increased each year, but there is a lack of bibliometric analyses in this field. To investigate the research achievements worldwide, this paper adopts bibliometrics to analyze the trend in the academic literature on the PA research of ASD published from 1980 to 2021. The documents were retrieved from the Web of Science database, and the search strategy was to combine the keywords related to "physical activity" and "autism spectrum disorder" by using the Boolean operator tools "OR" and "AND" in the title. A total of 359 English documents were retrieved. Microsoft Excel, Data Wrapper, VOSviewer, and Biblioshiny were used for the visual analysis. We found that the number of published documents increased the fastest from 2017 to 2021, which may be due to the promulgation of the Global Action Plan for Physical Activity 2018-2030 and the influence of COVID-19 on the world. The United States and the University of California systems are in the leading position in this field. Cooperation among countries with different levels of development will help to jointly promote the PA research progress on ASD. The focus themes include "individual effect", "social support" and "activity dose". The analysis of the frontier topic points out that researchers are paying increasing attention to how to improve the health and physical fitness of this group through PA. This research clearly puts forward a comprehensive overview, theme focus, and future trends in this field, which may be helpful to guide future research.