Measures, Frequently Used Tasks and Adaptations in Assessing Executive Functions in Children and Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review

Executive functions (EFs), including working memory, attention, inhibition and cognitive flexibility, are critical for adaptive behaviour and often impaired in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This systematic review synthesises findings from 398 articles, following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, to examine EF measures in children and adolescents with ASD. Working memory was the most frequently assessed domain, with tasks such as Digit Span, Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) Spatial Working Memory and Corsi Block commonly employed. Tasks for cognitive flexibility (e.g., Wisconsin Card Sorting Test [WCST]) and inhibition (e.g., Go/No-Go) were also prevalent, but detailed metric reporting (e.g., stimulus duration, response time) was generally lacking across EF measures. The review highlights the need for standardised reporting and individualised approaches to improve cross-study comparability and validity. These findings can guide the selection of robust EF measures and inform tailored ASD interventions in future research.