Examining Autism Spectrum Using the Attention Network Test: A Meta-Analysis

Attentional deficits are common in autism spectrum disorder. This project aimed to assess three attentional networks (alerting, orienting, and executive control). We conducted a Bayesian hierarchical meta-analysis of studies that implemented the Attention Network Test or its variants to explore whether autistic individuals exhibited differences in the networks of attention when compared to typically developing controls. Ten studies were included in our analysis, comprising 421 children and adults with the age ranging from 4 to 58 years (M = 16.79). Through a Bayesian analysis, we find weak evidence that autistic participants are overall slower to respond than controls. Further between group comparisons suggest differences in the orienting and executive control networks.