Executive Functions and Emotional Regulation in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Clinical Implications

Cognitive neuroscience has shown that the development of emotional regulation is closely linked to several basic executive functions, such as attention control, inhibition of inappropriate behaviour and decision-making, all of which are activated in emotionally demanding situations [95,101]. Executive functions (EF) are, in fact, a fundamental element of self-regulation, defined as the ability to regulate cognition, emotions and behaviour [19,55]. In people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), deficits in EF are frequently observed. They are related to difficulties such as theory of mind, social cognition, and repetitive and restricted behaviour patterns, which negatively affect the quality of life (Pugliese et al., 2015). Furthermore, these difficulties in EF can compromise social skills, mainly regulating behaviour in social contexts. Despite numerous studies, the role of EF in ASD is still unclear, with conflicting results due to factors such as age, functioning profile, comorbidities (e.g. ADHD) and assessment methodologies used [33].The identification of an executive dysfunction profile through neuropsychological assessment, together with targeted interventions to enhance executive functions, could not only improve the understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying ASD but also offer new opportunities to promote better emotional regulation and to improve diagnosis, assessment and clinical treatment.