Time Reproduction Deficit in Autistic Children and Its Relationship to Executive Functions

Cognitive deficits in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) affect different aspects of information processing and time perception. This study examined the temporal processing and its relation with executive functions (planning and working memory) in children with ASD as compared to a normal group. To this end، time reproduction task، spatial working memory (SWM) and stocking of Cambridge (SOC) tasks were performed in 14 children with ASD and 14 age-matched healthy control children. Our results demonstrated a significant correlation between time reproduction and working memory and planning. Children with ASD showed deficit in all three tasks as compared to the control group. Having working memory and planning considered as covariant variables، group differences in time reproduction continued to remain significant. Results showed that the impact of autism disorder on time perception was significant even after controlling working memory and planning. Therefore، time perception deficit in children with ASD may not be explained by executive dysfunctions in such a disorder.