Influence of inhibitory control on planning abilities in children with mild intellectual disability

Abstract

With regard to the fact that the tendency toward unsophisticated strategies is often related to difficulties with basic components of executive functions, the aim of this research was to determine the relation between planning abilities and inhibitory control in children with mild intellectual disability (MID). The sample included 56 children with idiopathic MID (IQ 50-69, M=61.13, SD=7.14), of both genders (26/46.3% of girls), between 9.11 and 14.03 years of age (M=11.61; SD=1.29). Go no Go Task and Day/Night Stroop Task were used for the assessment of inhibitory control (delayed response to the agreed signal, conflict provoking motor responses, and inhibition of arrogant verbal responses), while Tower of London Test (ToL) was used for the assessment of planning abilities. Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA), paired samples t-test, Pearson's correlation, and partial correlation coefficients were used in statistical analysis of the results. The results showed that the mistakes in Response delay set of Go-no-Go task were the only significant factor of primary Total move score variable (ToL). The influence of the ability to delay motor activity, assessed by Response delay set, on all ToL variables was statistically significant (p=0.003). The results lead to a conclusion that, during the processes of planning and executing activities, children with MID primarily rely on simple inhibitory mechanisms.

Polazeći od saznanja da je sklonost upotrebi nesofisticiranih strategija često povezana sa teškoćama bazičnih komponenata egzekutivnih funkcija, cilj istraživanja je da se utvrdi odnos između sposobnosti planiranja i inhibitorne kontrole kod dece sa lakom intelektualnom ometenešću (LIO). Uzorkom je obuhvaćeno 56 dece sa idiopatskom MID (IQ 50-69, AS=61,13, SD=7,14), oba pola (26/46.3% devojčica), uzrasta 9,11-14,03 godine (AS=11,61; SD=1,29). Za procenu inhibitorne kontrole (odlaganje odgovora na dogovoreni signal, konfliktni motorički odgovori i inhibicija prepotentnog verbalnog odgovora) korišćeni su Kreni/stani zadatak i Dan-noć verzija Strup testa, a za procenu sposobnosti planiranja test Londonska kula. Rezultati su statistički obrađeni primenom multivarijatne analize varijanse, t testa, Pirsonovog koeficijenta korelacije i parcijalne korelacije. Analizom rezultata utvrđeno je da su greške na Setu odlaganja odgovora Kreni/stani zadatka jedini značajan činilac ukupnog broja pokreta, primarne varijable Londonske kule. Uticaj mogućnosti odlaganja motoričke aktivnosti, procenjene Setom odlaganja odgovora, na posmatrane varijable Londonske kule u celini je statistički značajan (p=0,003). Sumirajući rezultate možemo zaključiti da se, tokom procesa planiranja i izvršavanja aktivnosti, deca sa LIO prvenstveno oslanjaju na jednostavne inhibitorne mehanizme.