Variation in restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests relates to inhibitory control and shifting in children with autism spectrum disorder

Symptoms of restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests in autism are theoretically linked to executive functioning, which includes problem-solving abilities such as inhibition and cognitive flexibility. This study examined whether inhibition and flexibility are related to higher order restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests (e.g. circumscribed interests and ritualistic behavior) and sensorimotor behaviors (e.g. stereotyped and repetitive movements and sensory preoccupations) among 102 school-aged children with autism spectrum disorder who had cognitive abilities in the average or above average range. The ability to inhibit interfering information and shifting ability were related to higher order restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests, and each uniquely accounted for variance. This suggests that the ability to suppress interfering information as well as the ability to flexibly shift between patterns of responding is protective against higher order restricted and repetitive behaviors and interest symptoms in autism. In addition, the ability to proactively slow one's reaction time in order to respond more carefully was related to sensorimotor restricted and repetitive behaviors. These results support the importance of distinguishing between higher order and sensorimotor symptoms due to their distinct relationships to executive functioning abilities.