The psychological effects associated with fragile X syndrome

Summary and review of recent research investigating the psychological effects associated with the fragile X syndrome in males and females, emphasizing areas of cognitive, language, social-emotional, and executive function. Also emphasized is the importance of recent molecular research findings and issues of ascertainment bias in the designing and interpretation of behavioral research. The summary of findings suggests that the fragile X mutation is associated with primary central nervous system dysfunction related to the processing or integration of nonverbal stimuli, the modulation of attention, motor behavior, affect, and to executive dysfunction. An integrative theoretical model is discussed.