Multitasking Abilities in Adolescents With 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome: Results From an Experimental Ecological Paradigm

Abstract

The 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) is associated with cognitive and functional impairments and increased risk for schizophrenia. We characterized multitasking abilities of adolescents with 22q11.2DS using an experimental naturalistic setting and examined whether multitasking impairments were associated with real-world functioning and negative symptoms. Thirty-nine adolescents (19 with 22q11.2DS and 20 controls) underwent the Multitasking Evaluation for Adolescents. Real-world functioning and clinical symptoms were assessed in participants with 22q11.2DS. Adolescents with 22q11.2DS performed poorly in the multitasking evaluation. Our data also suggest that multitasking abilities are related to adaptive functioning in the practical domain and negative symptoms. This study shows that adolescents with 22q11.2DS are characterized by multitasking impairments, which may be relevant for several aspects of the clinical phenotype.

Time-based prospective memory in children and adolescents with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome

“…Second, participants with 22q11.2DS were found to check the fuel gauge significantly less often than the controls. This deficient checking behaviour is in agreement with what Schneider et al (2016) observed in a study on multitasking in which adolescents with 22q11.2DS were found to check the time less often (note, however, that PM needs to be Prospective memory in 22q11.2 DS 15 differentiated from multitasking, see McDaniel & Einstein, 2007, for more details).…”

“…Rather we suggest that people with 22q11.2DS might show PM deficits due to difficulties managing the prospective component of the task, which requires time managing or time monitoring. In a paper on multitasking, Schneider et al (2016) found that people with 22q11.2DS checked the time less frequently than controls during the tasks. For this reason, time-based PM might be more sensitive than event-based PM to detect PM impairments in 22q11.2DS as it requires controlled checking behaviours.…”

Neuroanatomical Correlates of Cognitive Dysfunction in 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome

“…Diminished attention was observed to be proportional to deficits in overall intellectual function. Schneider et al [33] identified impaired multitasking abilities that were attributable to a combination of deficits in working memory and difficulties maintaining concentration on task execution rather than overall intellectual functioning. This additional layer of difficulty in higherorder executive functions suggests a more complex cognitive deficit in 22q11.2DS, impacting not just isolated cognitive processes but also the integration and pragmatic application of these processes in daily life.…”

Online Social Skills Group Training for Adolescents and Young Adults with 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome (22q11.2DS)

“…Indeed, social interactions are complex phenomena that require immediate adaptation to others and an ability to maintain focus on the current conversation while inhibiting irrelevant information [10]. EF deficits may thus contribute substantially to social impairments in general, and in 22q11.2DS patients in particular [8] [11].…”