Effects of LEGO®-Based Neurotherapy on Executive Functions in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Background: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) commonly exhibit impairments in executive functioning, which can affect their cognitive and adaptive functioning. Play-based neurohabilitation approaches have been proposed as complementary strategies to stimulate frontal-executive processes. Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of LEGO®-Based Neurotherapy (LBN) in enhancing executive functioning in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods: A pilot quasi-experimental pre-post intervention study was conducted in children with ASD. Children voluntarily enrolled either in a LBN program or in a non-intervention comparison group being control (CTRL) group. Executive functions were assessed at baseline and follow-up using the BANFE-3 battery. Results: Children participating in the LBN program showed greater improvements in dorsolateral executive-function scores and total executive-function indices compared with CTRL group. These findings suggest a potential association between participation in LBN and executive-function improvement. Conclusions: LBN may represent a promising complementary neurohabilitation approach for supporting executive functions in children with ASD.