Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-pftt2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-01T21:41:34.040Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Everyday Executive Function and Self-Awareness in Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 March 2021

Ryan W. Mangum ,
Justin S. Miller ,
Warren S. Brown Open the ORCID record for Warren S. Brown [Opens in a new window] ,
Anne A.T. Nolty Open the ORCID record for Anne A.T. Nolty [Opens in a new window]  and
Lynn K. Paul Open the ORCID record for Lynn K. Paul [Opens in a new window]
Ryan W. Mangum
Affiliation:
Fuller Graduate School of Psychology, Travis Research Institute, Pasadena, CA, USA
Justin S. Miller
Affiliation:
Fuller Graduate School of Psychology, Travis Research Institute, Pasadena, CA, USA
Warren S. Brown
Affiliation:
Fuller Graduate School of Psychology, Travis Research Institute, Pasadena, CA, USA International Research Consortium for the Corpus Callosum and Cerebral Connectivity (IRC5), Pasadena, CA, USA
Anne A.T. Nolty
Affiliation:
Fuller Graduate School of Psychology, Travis Research Institute, Pasadena, CA, USA
Lynn K. Paul*
Affiliation:
Fuller Graduate School of Psychology, Travis Research Institute, Pasadena, CA, USA International Research Consortium for the Corpus Callosum and Cerebral Connectivity (IRC5), Pasadena, CA, USA California Institute of Technology, Division of Humanities and Social Sciences, Pasadena, CA, USA
*
*Correspondence and reprint requests to: Lynn K. Paul, Baxter MC 228-77, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E California Blvd, Pasadena, CA91125, USA. E-mail: lkpaul@hss.caltech.edu
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective:

Agenesis of the corpus callosum (AgCC) is associated with a range of cognitive deficits, including mild to moderate problems in higher order executive functions evident in neuropsychological assessments. Previous research has also suggested a lack of self-awareness in persons with AgCC.

Method:

We investigated daily executive functioning and self-awareness in 36 individuals with AgCC by analyzing self-ratings on the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adult Version (BRIEF-A), as well as ratings on the same instrument from close relatives. Discrepancies between self- and informant-ratings were compared to the normative sample and exploratory analyses examined possible moderating effects of participant and informant characteristics.

Results:

Significant deficiencies were found in the Behavioral Regulation and Metacognitive indices for both the self and informant results, with elevated frequency of metacognition scores in the borderline to clinical range. Informants also endorsed elevated frequency of borderline to clinically significant behavioral regulation scores. The proportion of AgCC participants whose self-ratings indicated less metacognitive impairment than informant-ratings was greater than in the normative sample. Self-ratings of behavioral regulation impairment decreased with age and informant-ratings of metacognition were higher in males than females.

Conclusions:

These findings provide evidence that individuals with AgCC experience mild to moderate executive functioning problems in everyday behavior which are observed by others. Results also suggest a lack of self-understanding or insight into the severity of these problems in the individuals with AgCC, particularly with respect to their metacognitive functioning.

Keywords

Behavioral regulationcognitive flexibilityexecutive functionmetacognitionself-awarenessinterhemispheric commissureBRIEF-A
Type
Regular Research
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 27 , Issue 10 , November 2021 , pp. 1037 - 1047
Copyright
Copyright © INS. Published by Cambridge University Press, 2021

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Altman, D.G., Machin, D., Bryant, T.N., & Gardner, M.J. (2000). Statistics with Confidence: Confidence Intervals And Statistical Guidelines, 2nd ed. London: BMJ Books.Google Scholar
Anderson, L.B., Paul, L.K., & Brown, W.B. (2017). Emotional intelligence in agenesis of the corpus callosum. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 32, 267–279. doi: 10.1093/arclin/acx001 Google ScholarPubMed
Badaruddin, D.H., Andrews, G.L., Bölte, S., Schilmoeller, K.J., Schilmoeller, G., Paul, L.K., & Brown, W.S. (2007). Social and behavioral problems of children with agenesis of the corpus callosum. Child Psychiatry & Human Development, 38, 287–302. doi: 10.1007/s10578-007-0065-6 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Barr, M.S. & Corballis, M.C. (2002). The role of the anterior commissure in callosal agenesis. Neuropsychology, 16, 459. doi: 10.1037//0894-4105.16.4.459 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bechara, A., Damásio, A.R., Damásio, H., & Anderson, S.W. (1994). Insensitivity to future consequences following damage to human prefrontal cortex. Cognition, 50(1–3), 7–15. doi: 10.1016/0010-0277(94)90018-3 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bivona, U., Ciurli, P., Barba, C., Onder, G., Azcnuda, E., Silvestro, D., & Formisano, R. (2008). Executive function and metacognitive self-awareness after severe traumatic brain injury. Journal of International Neuropsychological Society, 14, 862–868.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bridgman, M.W., Brown, W.S., Spezio, M.L., Leonard, M.K., Adolphs, R., & Paul, L.K. (2014). Facial emotion recognition in agenesis of the corpus callosum. Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, 6, 32. doi: 10.1186/1866-1955-6-32 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brown, W.S., Anderson, L., Symington, M., & Paul, L. (2012). Decision-making in individuals with agenesis of the corpus callosum: Expectancy-valence in the Iowa Gambling Task. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology: The Official Journal of the National Academy of Neuropsychologists, 27, 532–544. doi: 10.1093/arclin/acs052 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brown, W.S., Jeeves, M.A., Dietrich, R., & Burnison, D.S. (1999). Bilateral field advantage and evoked potential interhemispheric transmission in commissurotomy and callosal agenesis. Neuropsychologia, 37, 1165–1180. doi: 10.1016/S0028-3932(99)00011-1 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brown, W.S., Panos, A., & Paul, L.K. (2020). Attention, impulsivity, and vigilance in agenesis of the Corpus Callosum. Neuropsychology. doi: 10.1037/neu0000685 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brown, W.S. & Paul, L.K. (2000). Cognitive and psychosocial deficits in agenesis of the corpus callosum with normal intelligence. Cognitive Neuropsychiatry, 5, 135–157. doi: 10.1080/135468000395781 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brown, W.S. & Paul, L.K. (2019). The neuropsychological syndrome of agenesis of the corpus callosum. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society. 25, 324–330. doi: 10.1017/S135561771800111X CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brown, W.S., Paul, L.K., Symington, M., & Dietrich, R. (2005). Comprehension of humor in primary agenesis of the corpus callosum. Neuropsychologia, 43, 906–916. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2004.09.008 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brown, W.S., Symington, M., VanLancker-Sidtis, D., Dietrich, R., & Paul, L.K. (2005). Paralinguistic processing in children with callosal agenesis: Emergence of neurolinguistic deficits. Brain and Language, 93, 135–139. doi: 10.1016/j.bandl.2004.09.003 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brown, W.S., Thrasher, E.D., & Paul, L.K. (2001). Interhemispheric Stroop effects in partial and complete agenesis of the corpus callosum. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 7, 302–311. doi: 10.1017/S1355617701733048 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Butcher, J.N., Graham, J.R., Ben Porath, Y.S., Tellegen, A., Dahlstrom, W.G., & Kaemmer, B. (2001). Manual for Administration, Scoring, and Administration (revised ed.). Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press.Google Scholar
Campbell, I. (2007). Chi-squared and Fisher-Irwin tests of two-by-two tables with small sample recommendations. Statistics in Medicine 26, 3661–3675.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chiarello, C. (1980). A house divided? Cognitive functioning with callosal agenesis. Brain and Language, 11, 128–158. doi: 10.1016/0093-934X(80)90116-9 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Erickson, R.L., Young, C.Y., Paul, L.K., & Brown, W.S. (2013). WAIS-III index scores in individuals with agenesis of the corpus callosum. Final Program Forty First Annual Meeting International Neuropsychological Society February 6–9, 2013 Waikoloa, Hawaii, USA. (2013). Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 19(S1), 224. doi: 10.1017/S1355617713000362 Google Scholar
Erickson, R.L., Paul, L.K., Brown, W.S. (2014). Verbal learning and memory in agenesis of the corpus callosum. Neuropsychologia, 60, 121–130. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2014.06.003 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fischer, M., Ryan, S.B., & Dobyns, W.B. (1992). Mechanisms of interhemispheric transfer and patterns of cognitive function in acallosal patients of normal intelligence. Archives of Neurology, 49, 271–277. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1992.00530270085023 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Glass, H.C., Shaw, G.M., Ma, C., & Sherr, E.H. (2008). Agenesis of the corpus callosum in California 1983-2003: A population-based study. American Journal of Medical Genetics, 146A, 2495–2500. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.32418 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gott, P.S. & Saul, R.E. (1978). Agenesis of the corpus callosum: Limits of functional compensation. Neurology, 28, 1271–1279. doi: 10.1212/WNL.28.12.1272 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ha, J., Paul, L.K., & Brown, W.S. (2016). Verbal problem solving in individuals with agenesis of the corpus callosum. Meeting Proceedings, Forty Fourth Annual Meeting International Neuropsychological Society February 3–6, 2016 Boston, Massachusetts, USA. (2016). Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 22(S1), 4. doi: 10.1017/S1355617716000734 Google Scholar
Imamura, T., Yamadori, A., Shiga, Y., Sahara, M., & Abiko, H. (1994). Is disturbed transfer of learning in callosal agenesis due to a disconnection syndrome? Behavioral Neurology, 7, 43–48. doi: 10.3233/BEN-1994-7201 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jeeves, M.A. (1979). Some limits to interhemispheric integration in cases of callosal agenesis and partial commissurotomy. In Steele Russell, I., van Hof, M.W., & Berluchhi, G. (Eds.), Structure and Function of Cerebral Commissures (pp. 449–474). London: Macmillan.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jinkins, J., Whittemore, A., & Bradley, W. (1989). MR imaging of callosal and corticocallosal dysgenesis. American Journal of Neuroradiology, 10, 339–344.Google ScholarPubMed
Johnston, K., Murray, K., Spain, D., Walker, I., & Russell, A. (2019). Executive function: Cognition and behaviour in adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 49, 4181–4192. doi: 10.1007/s10803–019–04133–7 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kaplan, J. M., Brown, W. S., Adolphs, R., & Paul, L. K. (2012). Psychological profile in agenesis of the corpus callosum [Abstract]. Poster presented at the Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting: October 13–17, 2012 New Orleans, LA, USA. 198.19.Google Scholar
Karnath, H.O., Schumacher, M., & Wallesch, C.W. (1991). Limitations of interhemispheric extracallosal transfer of visual information in callosal agenesis. Cortex, 27, 345–350. doi: 10.1016/S0010-9452(13)80141-4 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lau, Y.C., Hinkley, L.B., Bukshpun, P., Strominger, Z.A., Wakahiro, M.L., Baron-Cohen, S., … Marco, E.J. 2013. Autism traits in individuals with agenesis of the corpus callosum. Journal of Autism Developmental Disorders, 43, 1106–1118. doi: 10.1007/s10803-012-1653-2.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lindquist, K.A., MacCormack, J.K., & Shablack, H. (2015). The role of language in emotion: predictions from psychological constructionism. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 444. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00444 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Longino, S.M. (2011). Analysis of content scales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 in complete and partial agenesis of the corpus callosum. Dissertation Abstracts International, 73, 1304.Google Scholar
Mangum, R., Paul, L.K., & Brown, W.S. (2014). Twenty questions problem-solving and strategy in individuals with agenesis of the corpus callosum. Final Program Forty Second Annual Meeting International Neuropsychological Society February 12–15, 2014 Seattle, Washington, USA. (2014). Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 20(S1), 260. doi: 10.1017/S1355617714000381 Google Scholar
Marco, E.J., Harrell, K.M., Brown, W.S., Hill, S.S., Jeremy, R.J., Kramer, J.H., … Paul, L.K. (2012). Processing speed delays contribute to executive function deficits in individuals with agenesis of the corpus callosum. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 18, 521–529.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Miller, J.S., Brown, W.S., Mangum, R., & Paul, L.K. (2020). Adaptive behavior in AgCC: Self and informant reports. Manuscript submitted for publication.Google Scholar
Miller, J.S., Panos, A.H., Brown, W.S. & Paul, L.K. (2016). Adaptive skills in high-functioning adults with ACC and ASD. Meeting Proceedings, Forty Fourth Annual Meeting International Neuropsychological Society February 3–6, 2016 Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 22(S1), 5. doi: 10.1017/S1355617716000734 Google Scholar
Paul, L.K., Brown, W.S., Adolphs, R., Tyszka, J., Richards, L.J., Mukherjee, P., & Sherr, E.H. (2007). Agenesis of the corpus callosum: Genetic, developmental and functional aspects of connectivity. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 8, 287–299. doi: 10.1038/nrn2107 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Paul, L.K., Corsello, C., Kennedy, D., & Adolphs, R. (2014). Agenesis of the corpus callosum and autism: A comprehensive comparison. Brain, 137, 1813–1829.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Paul, L.K., Erickson, R.L., Hartman, J.A., & Brown, W.S. (2016). Learning and memory in individuals with agenesis of the corpus callosum. Neuropsychologia, 86, 183–192. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2016.04.013 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Paul, L.K., Lautzenhiser, A., Brown, W.S., Hart, A., Neumann, D., Spezio, M., & Adolphs, R. (2006). Emotional arousal in agenesis of the corpus callosum. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 61, 47–56. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2005.10.017 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Paul, L.K., Pazienza, S., & Brown, W.S. (in press). Alexithymia and somatization in agenesis of the corpus callosum. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience.Google Scholar
Paul, L.K., Schieffer, B., & Brown, W.S. (2004). Social processing deficits in agenesis of the corpus callosum: Narratives from the Thematic Apperception Test. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 19, 215–255. doi: 10/1016/S0887-6177(03)00024-6 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Paul, L.K., VanLancker-Sidtis, D., Schieffer, B., & Brown, W.S. (2003). Communicative deficits in individuals with agenesis of the corpus callosum: Nonliteral language and affective prosody. Brain and Language, 85, 313–324. doi: 10.1016/S0093-934X(03)00062-2 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rehmel, J.L., Brown, W.S., & Paul, L.K. (2016). Proverb comprehension in individuals with agenesis of the corpus callosum. Brain & Language, 160, 21–29. doi: 10.1016/j.bandl.2016.07.001 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Renteria-Vazquez, T., Brown, W.S., Kang, C., Graves, M., Castelli, F., & Paul, L.K. (in press). Social inferences in agenesis of the corpus callosum and autism: Semantic analysis and topic modeling. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.Google Scholar
Richardson, J.T.E. (2011). The analysis of 2 x 2 contingency tables - Yet again. Statistics in Medicine, 30, 890.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Roth, R.M., Isquith, P.K., & Gioia, G.A. (2005). Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Function–Adult Version. Lutz, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources.Google Scholar
Sauerwein, H.C. & Lassonde, M. (1983). Intra-and interhemispheric processing of visual information in callosal agenesis. Neuropsychologia, 21, 167–171. doi: 10.1016/0028-3932(83)90084-2 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sauerwein, H.C. & Lassonde, M. (1994). Cognitive and sensori-motor functioning in the absence of the corpus callosum: Neuropsychological studies in callosal agenesis and callosotomized patients. Behavioral Brain Research, 64, 229–240. doi: 10.1016/0166-4328(94)90135-X CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schieffer, B., Paul, L., & Brown, W. (2000). Deficits in complex concept formation in agenesis of the corpus callosum [Abstract]. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 6, 164.Google Scholar
Schieffer, B.M. (1999). Concept formation, problem-solving and memory encoding abilities in individuals with congenital agenesis of the corpus callosum and normal intelligence. Dissertation Abstracts International, 62(3), 1597.Google Scholar
Siffredi, V., Anderson, V., Leventer, R.J., & Spencer-Smith, M.M. (2013). Neuropsychological profile of agenesis of the corpus callosum: A systematic review. Developmental Neuropsychology, 38, 36–57.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Smith, L.A. & Rourke, B.P. (1995). Callosal agenesis. In Rourke, B.P. (Ed.), Syndrome of nonverbal learning disabilities: Neurodevelopmental manifestations (pp. 45–92). New York: Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Solursh, L.P., Margulies, A.I., Ashem, B., & Stasiak, E.A. (1965). The relationships of agenesis of the corpus callosum to perception and learning. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 141, 180–189. doi: 10.1097/00005053-196508000-00005 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sperry, R.W. (1974). Lateral specialization in the surgically separated hemispheres. In Schmitt, F.O. & Worden, P.G. (Eds.), Neurosciences: Third study program. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.Google Scholar
Strauss, E., Sherman, E.M.S., & Spreen, O. (2006). A Compendium of Neuropsychological Tests: Administration, Norms, and Commentary, (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Symington, S.H., Paul, L.K., Symington, M.F., Ono, M., & Brown, W.S. (2010). Social cognition in individuals with agenesis of the corpus callosum. Social Neuroscience, 5, 296–308. doi: 10.1080/17470910903462 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Turk, A.A., Brown, W.S., Symington, M., & Paul, L.K. (2010). Social narratives in agenesis of the corpus callosum: Linguistic analysis of the Thematic Apperception Test. Neuropsychologia, 48, 43–50. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2009.08.009 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Verhoeven, E., Marijnissen, N., Berger, H., Oudshoorn, J., Sijde, A., & Teunisse, J. (2012). Brief report: Relationship between self-awareness of real-world behavior and treatment outcome in autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders, 42(5), 889–894.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wechsler, D. (1997). WAIS-III: Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (3rd ed.). San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.Google Scholar
Wechsler, D. (2001). Wechsler Test of Adult Reading. San Antonio, TX: Pearson.Google Scholar
Wechsler, D. (2003). Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, (4th ed.). London: Pearson.Google Scholar
Wechsler, D. (2005). Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (WIAT II), (2nd ed.). London: The Psychological Corp.Google Scholar
White, E.I., Wallace, G.L., Bascom, J., Armour, A.C., Register-Brown, K., Popal, H.S., … Kenworthy, L. (2017). Sex differences in parent-reported executive functioning and adaptive behavior in children and young adults with autism spectrum disorder. Autism Research: Official Journal of the International Society for Autism Research, 10(10), 1653–1662. doi: 10.1002/aur.1811 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wilson, K.R., Donders, J., & Nguyen, L. (2011). Self and parent ratings of executive functioning after adolescent traumatic brain injury. Rehabilitation Psychology, 56(2), 100–106.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Young, C.M., Folsom, R.C., Paul, L.K., Su, J., Mangum, R.W., & Brown, W.S. (2019). Awareness of consequences in agenesis of the corpus callosum: Semantic analysis of responses. Neuropsychology, 33, 275–284. doi: 10.1037/neu0000512 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed