1
|
Wang J, Christensen D, Coombes SA, Wang Z. Cognitive and brain morphological deviations in middle-to-old aged autistic adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024:105782. [PMID: 38944227 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/01/2024]
Abstract
Cognitive challenges and brain structure variations are common in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) but are rarely explored in middle-to-old aged autistic adults. Cognitive deficits that overlap between young autistic individuals and elderlies with dementia raise an important question: does compromised cognitive ability and brain structure during early development drive autistic adults to be more vulnerable to pathological aging conditions, or does it protect them from further decline? To answer this question, we have synthesized current theoretical models of aging in ASD and conducted a systematic literature review (Jan 1, 1980 - Feb 29, 2024) and meta-analysis to summarize empirical studies on cognitive and brain deviations in middle-to-old aged autistic adults. We explored findings that support different aging theories in ASD and addressed study limitations and future directions. This review sheds light on the poorly understood consequences of aging question raised by the autism community to pave the way for future studies to identify sensitive and reliable measures that best predict the onset, progression, and prognosis of pathological aging in ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jingying Wang
- Neurocognitive and Behavioral Development Laboratory, Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, PO Box 118206, Gainesville, FL 32611-8205, USA.
| | - Danielle Christensen
- Neurocognitive and Behavioral Development Laboratory, Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, PO Box 118206, Gainesville, FL 32611-8205, USA; Laboratory for Rehabilitation Neuroscience, Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, PO Box 118206, Gainesville, FL 32611-8205, USA.
| | - Stephen A Coombes
- Laboratory for Rehabilitation Neuroscience, Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, PO Box 118206, Gainesville, FL 32611-8205, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
| | - Zheng Wang
- Neurocognitive and Behavioral Development Laboratory, Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, PO Box 118206, Gainesville, FL 32611-8205, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Faustmann LL, Altgassen M. Practice is the best of all instructors-Effects of enactment encoding and episodic future thinking on prospective memory performance in high-functioning adults with autism spectrum disorder. Autism Res 2024; 17:1258-1275. [PMID: 38800974 DOI: 10.1002/aur.3165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Prospective memory (PM) is the ability to remember to carry out intended actions in the future. The present study investigated the effects of episodic future thinking (EFT) and enactment encoding (EE) on PM performance in autistic adults (ASD). A total of 72 autistic individuals and 70 controls matched for age, gender, and cognitive abilities completed a computerized version of the Dresden breakfast Task, which required participants to prepare breakfast following a set of rules and time restrictions. A two (group: ASD vs. controls) by three (encoding condition: EFT vs. EE vs. standard) between-subjects design was applied. Participants were either instructed to engage in EFT or EE to prepare to the different tasks prior to performing the Dresden breakfast or received standard instructions. Analyses of variance were conducted. Autism-spectrum-disorders (ASD) participants did not differ from control participants in their PM performance, regardless of which strategy they used. Compared to the standard condition, EE but not EFT improved time-based PM performance in all participants. This is the first study to find spared time-based PM performance in autistic individuals. The results confirm earlier results of beneficial effects of EE on PM performance. Findings are discussed with regards to the methodology used, sample composition as well as autistic characteristics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Larissa L Faustmann
- Department of Psychology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Mareike Altgassen
- Department of Psychology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Dehnavi F, Khan A. Time-Based and Event-Based Prospective Memory in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Virtual Week Investigation. J Autism Dev Disord 2024; 54:2298-2306. [PMID: 37079178 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-023-05975-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental condition including persistent challenges with social communication, restricted interests, and repetitive behavior. Though prospective memory failures are commonly observed in ASD population it has been less studied among adults with ASD. Prospective memory (PM) refers to the execution of delayed intentions. There are contradictory findings of regular and irregular prospective memory task among autistic adults. The present study is an attempt to investigate prospective memory performance among adults with autism spectrum disorder using the Virtual Week board game. METHOD Virtual Week (Rendell & Craik, 2000) (3-day Version) is a computerized board game in which participants after rolling a die move token clockwise around the board. Each round of the board represents one virtual "day." Adults between 16 and 25 years of age who were diagnosed with ASD (N = 23) were compared with non-ASD (N = 26) adults. RESULTS Analyses of variance were used to analyze the data. Results revealed that autistic adults as compared to normal adults showed poorer performance on time-based task than on event-based task. A significant difference was evident between regular and irregular prospective memory tasks across both tasks among autistic adults. Results also revealed that ASD difficulties are associated with the prospective component of the irregular task. CONCLUSIONS Prospective memory failures are widely observed in ASD group, and have important implications for functional independence. The findings of this study provide insight into prospective memory challenges that adults with autism spectrum disorder face in a daily basis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Farangis Dehnavi
- Psychophysiology Laboratory, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay Powai, Mumbai, 400 076, Maharashtra, India
| | - Azizuddin Khan
- Psychophysiology Laboratory, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay Powai, Mumbai, 400 076, Maharashtra, India.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Szpakiewicz E, Stępień-Nycz M. How do the cognitive processes matter in the event-based preschoolers' prospective memory? Front Psychol 2024; 15:1279144. [PMID: 38699576 PMCID: PMC11063366 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1279144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Prospective memory (PM) is the ability to remember to perform an intended action at a specific future moment. The current study examined the impact of age, task focality, and cue salience on PM in children aged 2 to 6 years, based on the multiprocess theory of PM and the executive framework of PM development. Additionally, the study explored the relationship between various cognitive abilities and their association with PM performance. Methods A total of 224 preschool-aged children, aged 2-6, engaged in event-based PM tasks with varying cognitive demands. The tasks were either focal or nonfocal, with salient or nonsalient cues. Additionally, individual differences in cognitive abilities were measured. Results The results support previous indications that even very young children can successfully complete event-based PM tasks. The accuracy of PM display improved with age, especially between the ages of 3 and 4. Better performance was observed in focal PM tasks compared to nonfocal PM tasks. Additionally, preschoolers' PM performance correlated with various cognitive abilities, including fluid intelligence, retrospective memory, inhibitory control, working memory, and language ability. These correlations varied depending on the child's age and the task's nature. For both focal and nonfocal PM tasks, cognitive abilities partially mediated the relationship between age and PM performance. Conclusion In summary, this study comprehensively explores the specific roles played by age and fundamental cognitive abilities in event-based PM performance among preschool-aged children.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elżbieta Szpakiewicz
- Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
- Institute of Psychology, University of the National Education Commission, Krakow, Poland
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Nojiri E, Takase K. Understanding Sensory-Motor Disorders in Autism Spectrum Disorders by Extending Hebbian Theory: Formation of a Rigid-Autonomous Phase Sequence. PERSPECTIVES ON PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2023:17456916231202674. [PMID: 37910043 DOI: 10.1177/17456916231202674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. The symptoms invariably appear in early childhood and cause significant impairment in social, occupational, and other important functions. Various abnormalities in the genetic, neurological, and endocrine systems of patients with autism spectrum disorder have been reported as the etiology; however, no clear factor leading to the onset of the disease has been identified. Additionally, higher order cognitive dysfunctions, which are represented by a lack of theory of mind, sensorimotor disorders, and memory-related disorders (e.g., flashbacks), have been reported in recent years, but no theoretical framework has been proposed to explain these behavioral abnormalities. In this study, we extended Hebb's biopsychology theory to provide a theoretical framework that comprehensively explains the various behavioral abnormalities observed in autism spectrum disorder. Specifically, we propose that a wide range of symptoms in autism spectrum disorder may be caused by the formation of a rigid-autonomous phase sequence (RAPS) in the brain. Using the RAPS formation theory, we propose a biopsychological mechanism that could be a target for the treatment of autism spectrum disorders.
Collapse
|
6
|
Cundari M, Vestberg S, Gustafsson P, Gorcenco S, Rasmussen A. Neurocognitive and cerebellar function in ADHD, autism and spinocerebellar ataxia. Front Syst Neurosci 2023; 17:1168666. [PMID: 37415926 PMCID: PMC10321758 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2023.1168666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The cerebellum plays a major role in balance, motor control and sensorimotor integration, but also in cognition, language, and emotional regulation. Several neuropsychiatric disorders such as attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as well as neurological diseases such as spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) are associated with differences in cerebellar function. Morphological abnormalities in different cerebellar subregions produce distinct behavioral symptoms related to the functional disruption of specific cerebro-cerebellar circuits. The specific contribution of the cerebellum to typical development may therefore involve the optimization of the structure and function of cerebro-cerebellar circuits underlying skill acquisition in multiple domains. Here, we review cerebellar structural and functional differences between healthy and patients with ADHD, ASD, and SCA3, and explore how disruption of cerebellar networks affects the neurocognitive functions in these conditions. We discuss how cerebellar computations contribute to performance on cognitive and motor tasks and how cerebellar signals are interfaced with signals from other brain regions during normal and dysfunctional behavior. We conclude that the cerebellum plays a role in many cognitive functions. Still, more clinical studies with the support of neuroimaging are needed to clarify the cerebellum's role in normal and dysfunctional behavior and cognitive functioning.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maurizio Cundari
- Department of Experimental Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Unit of Neuropsychiatry, Hospital of Helsingborg, Helsingborg, Sweden
- Unit of Neurology, Hospital of Helsingborg, Helsingborg, Sweden
| | - Susanna Vestberg
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Peik Gustafsson
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Medical Faculty, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Sorina Gorcenco
- Department for Clinical Sciences Lund, Neurology, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Anders Rasmussen
- Department of Experimental Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Jylkkä J, Ritakallio L, Merzon L, Kangas S, Kliegel M, Zuber S, Hering A, Salmi J, Laine M. Assessment of goal-directed behavior with the 3D videogame EPELI: Psychometric features in a web-based adult sample. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0280717. [PMID: 36943848 PMCID: PMC10030028 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
EPELI (Executive Performance in Everyday LIving) is a recently developed gaming tool for objective assessment of goal-directed behavior and prospective memory (PM) in everyday contexts. This pre-registered study examined psychometric features of a new EPELI adult online version, modified from the original child version and further developed for self-administered web-based testing at home. A sample of 255 healthy adults completed EPELI where their task was to perform household chores instructed by a virtual character. The participants also filled out PM-related questionnaires and a diary and performed two conventional PM tasks and an intelligence test. We expected that the more "life-like" EPELI task would show stronger associations with conventional PM questionnaires and diary-based everyday PM reports than traditional PM tasks would do. This hypothesis did not receive support. Although EPELI was rated as more similar to everyday tasks, performance in it was not associated with the questionnaires and the diary. However, there were associations between time-monitoring behavior in EPELI and the traditional PM tasks. Taken together, online adult-EPELI was found to be a reliable method with high ecological face validity, but its convergent validity requires further research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jussi Jylkkä
- Department of Psychology, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Liisa Ritakallio
- Department of Psychology, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Liya Merzon
- Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
| | - Suvi Kangas
- Department of Psychology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Matthias Kliegel
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Centre for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sascha Zuber
- Centre for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Swiss National Center of Competences in Research LIVES-Overcoming Vulnerability: Life Course Perspectives, Lausanne & Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Alexandra Hering
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Developmental Psychology, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands
| | - Juha Salmi
- Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
- MAGICS, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
| | - Matti Laine
- Department of Psychology, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Faustmann LL, Kretschmer-Trendowicz A, Altgassen M. Do emotionally salient cues improve prospective memory performance in children and adolescents with autism? RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2022; 131:104375. [PMID: 36401920 DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2022.104375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prospective memory (PM) describes the ability to initiate and perform a planned action after a delay. Previous studies suggest reduced PM in autism spectrum disorder (ASD); especially when tasks put high demands on executive control resources. Increasing cue salience by presenting emotional cues improves PM performance in non-autistic populations. AIMS To explore whether children with ASD, whose processing of emotionally connoted information might differ from that of typically developing children, may also benefit from this type of salience in PM tasks. METHODS AND PROCEDURES Twenty-five children with and 25 children without ASD completed a 1-back ongoing task into which an event-based PM task was embedded. Emotional salience of PM cues was varied. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS Children with ASD performed as well as children without ASD on the PM task and equally benefited from emotionally salient cues. Specifically, negative cues increased PM performance compared to neutral cues in both groups CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The findings are consistent with the multiprocess framework which postulates that salient PM cues increase performance by promoting automatic intention retrieval and reducing executive control demands. Children with ASD seem to show similar comprehension and accessibility to emotional cues as typically developing children.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mareike Altgassen
- Department of Psychology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Kourtesis P, MacPherson SE. An ecologically valid examination of event-based and time-based prospective memory using immersive virtual reality: The influence of attention, memory, and executive function processes on real-world prospective memory. Neuropsychol Rehabil 2021; 33:255-280. [PMID: 34856886 DOI: 10.1080/09602011.2021.2008983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Studies on prospective memory (PM) predominantly assess either event- or time-based PM by implementing non-ecological laboratory-based tasks. The results deriving from these paradigms have provided findings that are discrepant with ecologically valid research paradigms that converge on the complexity and cognitive demands of everyday tasks. The Virtual Reality Everyday Assessment Lab (VR-EAL), an immersive virtual reality (VR) neuropsychological battery with enhanced ecological validity, was implemented to assess everyday event- and time-based PM, as well as the influence of other cognitive functions on everyday PM functioning. The results demonstrated the role of delayed recognition, planning, and visuospatial attention on everyday PM. Delayed recognition and planning ability were found to be central in event- and time-based PM respectively. In order of importance, delayed recognition, visuospatial attention speed, and planning ability were found to be involved in event-based PM functioning. Comparably, planning, visuospatial attention accuracy, delayed recognition, and multitasking/task-shifting ability were found to be involved in time-based PM functioning. These findings further suggest the importance of ecological validity in the study of PM, which may be achieved using immersive VR paradigms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis Kourtesis
- Human Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Lab of Experimental Psychology, Suor Orsola Benincasa University of Naples, Naples, Italy.,Interdepartmental Centre for Planning and Research "Scienza Nuova", Suor Orsola Benincasa University of Naples, Naples, Italy.,National Research Institute of Computer Science and Automation, INRIA, Rennes, France.,Univ Rennes, Rennes, France.,Research Institute of Computer Science and Random Systems, IRISA, Rennes, France.,French National Centre for Scientific Research, CNRS, Rennes, France
| | - Sarah E MacPherson
- Human Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Golm D, Sarkar S, Mackes NK, Fairchild G, Mehta MA, Rutter M, Sonuga-Barke EJ. The impact of childhood deprivation on adult neuropsychological functioning is associated with ADHD symptom persistence. Psychol Med 2021; 51:2675-2684. [PMID: 32419675 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291720001294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Institutional deprivation in early childhood is associated with neuropsychological deficits in adolescence. Using 20-year follow-up data from a unique natural experiment - the large-scale adoption of children exposed to extreme deprivation in Romanian institutions in the 1980s -we examined, for the first time, whether such deficits are still present in adulthood and whether they are associated with deprivation-related symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS Adult neuropsychological functioning was assessed across five domains (inhibitory control, emotion recognition, decision-making, prospective memory and IQ) in 70 previously institutionalized adoptees (mean age = 25.3, 50% female) and 22 non-deprived UK adoptees (comparison group, mean age = 24.6, 41% female). ADHD and ASD symptoms were assessed using parent-completed questionnaires. RESULTS Early institutionalization was associated with impaired performance on all tasks in adulthood. Prospective memory deficits persisted after controlling for IQ. ADHD and ASD symptoms were positively correlated. After controlling for ASD symptoms, ADHD symptoms remained associated with deficits in IQ, prospective memory, proactive inhibition, decision-making quality and emotion recognition. ASD symptoms were not independently associated with neuropsychological deficits when accounting for their overlap with ADHD symptoms. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the link between childhood deprivation and adult ADHD symptoms was statistically explained by deprivation-related differences in adult IQ and prospective memory. CONCLUSIONS These results represent some of the most compelling evidence to date of the enduring power of early, time-limited childhood adversity to impair long-term neuropsychological functioning across the lifespan - effects that are linked specifically to deprivation-related adult ADHD symptoms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Golm
- Centre for Innovation in Mental Health, School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Sagari Sarkar
- Cognitive Neuroscience & Neuropsychiatry Section, University College London, London, UK
| | - Nuria K Mackes
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | | | - Mitul A Mehta
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Michael Rutter
- MRC Social Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Edmund J Sonuga-Barke
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
How immersive virtual reality methods may meet the criteria of the National Academy of Neuropsychology and American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology: A software review of the Virtual Reality Everyday Assessment Lab (VR-EAL). COMPUTERS IN HUMAN BEHAVIOR REPORTS 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chbr.2021.100151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
|
12
|
Sheppard DP, Altgassen M. Did you hear? Auditory prospective memory cues are more beneficial for autistic than for non-autistic children and adolescents. RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2021; 115:104001. [PMID: 34090086 DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2021.104001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The transition from primary to secondary school is particularly difficult for autistic children, a transition underpinned by an increase in prospective memory (PM) demands. AIMS To better understand PM in autistic children of the relevant age range and its underlying processes, the current study investigated the impact of cue salience (distinctiveness) on PM in autistic and non-autistic children and adolescents. The study was unique in manipulating the visual and auditory salience of PM cues. Salient cues are assumed to put lower demands on executive control resources as compared to cues that blend in with the ongoing activity. METHODS AND PROCEDURES The children completed a computer-based categorisation task in which an event-based PM task was embedded. The salience of PM cues was manipulated (low, high visual and high auditory salience). OUTCOMES AND RESULTS Results revealed that both groups benefitted from an increase in visual and auditory salience, but only autistic participants were faster to respond to auditory cues. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Increased cue salience improved PM performance for all children. Positive effects of auditory cues were especially evident in autistic children.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Patrick Sheppard
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; School of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Mareike Altgassen
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Psychology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Mills GN, Raskin SA, DiMario FJ. Remembering to remember: prospective memory in children with epilepsy. Child Neuropsychol 2021; 28:14-29. [PMID: 34236944 DOI: 10.1080/09297049.2021.1944615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Prospective memory, the ability to remember to perform an intended act in the future, is a complex process that involves several stages and cognitive domains. This study sought to investigate prospective memory functioning in children with idiopathic epilepsy using tasks from the Rivermead Behavioral Memory Test for Children (RBMT-C) and the Memory for Intentions Screening Test for Youth (MISTY). Performances on prospective memory task characteristics of the MISTY (i.e., cue-type, length of time delay, and response type) were also compared between and across participant groups. Healthy children (N = 26) were found to have higher overall IQ and verbal IQ scores when compared to children with epilepsy (N = 19). Group differences in prospective memory functioning were found in subtests of the RBMT-C but not on the MISTY. Lastly, while there was no significant interaction effect between the groups and MISTY task characteristics, main effects were found across participant groups; all participants performed better on event-based tasks when compared to time-based tasks and on two-minute when compared to 10-minute time delays. Overall, findings suggest potential differences in cognitive functioning, particularly in IQ and prospective memory, in children with idiopathic epilepsy, though due to differences in findings across prospective memory tasks, further research is warranted to more definitively ascertain the extent, if any, of prospective memory deficits in children with epilepsy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ginger N Mills
- Department of Psychology, University of Hartford, West Hartford, CT, USA
| | - Sarah A Raskin
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Trinity College, Hartford, CT, USA
| | - Francis J DiMario
- Department of Neurology, Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford, CT, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Benítez-Burraco A, Ferretti F, Progovac L. Human Self-Domestication and the Evolution of Pragmatics. Cogn Sci 2021; 45:e12987. [PMID: 34170029 DOI: 10.1111/cogs.12987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 04/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
As proposed for the emergence of modern languages, we argue that modern uses of languages (pragmatics) also evolved gradually in our species under the effects of human self-domestication, with three key aspects involved in a complex feedback loop: (a) a reduction in reactive aggression, (b) the sophistication of language structure (with emerging grammars initially facilitating the transition from physical aggression to verbal aggression); and (c) the potentiation of pragmatic principles governing conversation, including, but not limited to, turn-taking and inferential abilities. Our core hypothesis is that the reduction in reactive aggression, one of the key factors in self-domestication processes, enabled us to fully exploit our cognitive and interactional potential as applied to linguistic exchanges, and ultimately to evolve a specific form of communication governed by persuasive reciprocity-a trait of human conversation characterized by both competition and cooperation. In turn, both early crude forms of language, well suited for verbal aggression/insult, and later more sophisticated forms of language, well suited for persuasive reciprocity, significantly contributed to the resolution and reduction of (physical) aggression, thus having a return effect on the self-domestication processes. Supporting evidence for our proposal, as well as grounds for further testing, comes mainly from the consideration of cognitive disorders, which typically simultaneously present abnormal features of self-domestication (including aggressive behavior) and problems with pragmatics and social functioning. While various approaches to language evolution typically reduce it to a single factor, our approach considers language evolution as a multifactorial process, with each player acting upon the other, engaging in an intense mutually reinforcing feedback loop. Moreover, we see language evolution as a gradual process, continuous with the pre-linguistic cognitive abilities, which were engaged in a positive feedback loop with linguistic innovations, and where gene-culture co-evolution and cultural niche construction were the main driving forces.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Benítez-Burraco
- Department of Spanish, Linguistics and Theory of Literature (Linguistics), Faculty of Philology, University of Seville
| | - Francesco Ferretti
- Department of Philosophy, Communication and Performing Arts. Roma Tre University
| | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Matos P, Albuquerque PB. From retrospective to prospective memory research: a framework for investigating the deactivation of intentions. Cogn Process 2021; 22:411-434. [PMID: 33694121 DOI: 10.1007/s10339-021-01016-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The definition of episodic memory has evolved into a multifaceted concept that gathered great attention in several research areas in psychology and neuroscience. Prospective memory (PM), or the ability to remember to perform delayed intentions at a later moment in the future, represents one side of this capacity for which that has been a growing interest. In this review, we examined a counterintuitive finding: PM intentions may persist and affect our behaviour despite successful goal attainment and task completion, which in daily life may be as serious as taking medication twice. This review aims to elucidate the existing knowledge and identify some unresolved questions concerning this specific memory failure. Therefore, this review provides an overview of the uprising research dedicated to both PM omission and commission errors, including an analysis of its definitions, of the current theoretical approaches of PM retrieval, and the main procedures used in this field to offer an integrative perspective on this topic. Finally, the last section is devoted to discussing future directions to test the predictions of our suggested theoretical explanations for PM deactivation. This might be an avenue for research that is likely to extend our understanding of episodic memory's usefulness in everyday life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia Matos
- School of Psychology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
| | - Pedro B Albuquerque
- School of Psychology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Di Sarro R, Di Santantonio A, Desideri L, Varrucciu N. Profiling planning skills and cognitive flexibility of adults with autism spectrum disorders: Preliminary results from an exploratory service-based study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2021; 68:651-657. [PMID: 36210889 PMCID: PMC9542481 DOI: 10.1080/20473869.2020.1871311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Background: Executive functions (EF) impairments have long been observed in children and youths with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Until very recently, little attention has been paid to examine EF profiles of adults with ASD. Given the importance of EF to cope with the demands of daily life and participate in society (e.g. maintaining an employment), this study reports on a preliminary investigation aimed at exploring planning skills and cognitive flexibility in a sample of adults with ASD and without intellectual disability. A secondary aim was to explore the contribution of both intellectual functioning and socio-demographic variables on efficiency of EF. Method: Twenty-nine autistic adults (age range 18-50) were assessed using the Tower of London (ToL) test and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). Intellectual functioning was assessed with the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - IV. Results: From the evaluations emerged poor performances in sub-processes related to planning skills as assessed by ToL (number of Moves, Correct Reponses, and Execution time). In contrast, WCST performance did not result impaired in any of the indicators considered. Exploratory analyses revealed a strong relationship between the time needed to complete the planning tasks and visuo-spatial reasoning. Further, strong inverse associations were found between global intellectual functioning and chronological age in the WCST. Conclusions: The results of this study highlight mixed EF profiles in a sample of adults with ASD. Future investigations may build on the results of the present study to understand whether evaluating planning abilities of adults with ASD by means of measures that do not require a time-limit would yield different results compared to time-constrained assessment procedures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rita Di Sarro
- Integrated Program Disability and Health, Emilia-Romagna Region, Bologna, Italy
| | - Anna Di Santantonio
- Integrated Program Disability and Health, Emilia-Romagna Region, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Desideri
- Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Regional Centre for Assistive Technology, Bologna, Italy
| | - Niccolò Varrucciu
- Integrated Program Disability and Health, Emilia-Romagna Region, Bologna, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Benítez-Burraco A. Mental time travel, language evolution, and human self-domestication. Cogn Process 2021; 22:363-367. [DOI: 10.1007/s10339-020-01005-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
|
18
|
Air Pollution-Related Brain Metal Dyshomeostasis as a Potential Risk Factor for Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Neurodegenerative Diseases. ATMOSPHERE 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos11101098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Increasing evidence links air pollution (AP) exposure to effects on the central nervous system structure and function. Particulate matter AP, especially the ultrafine (nanoparticle) components, can carry numerous metal and trace element contaminants that can reach the brain in utero and after birth. Excess brain exposure to either essential or non-essential elements can result in brain dyshomeostasis, which has been implicated in both neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs; autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and neurodegenerative diseases (NDGDs; Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). This review summarizes the current understanding of the extent to which the inhalational or intranasal instillation of metals reproduces in vivo the shared features of NDDs and NDGDs, including enlarged lateral ventricles, alterations in myelination, glutamatergic dysfunction, neuronal cell death, inflammation, microglial activation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, altered social behaviors, cognitive dysfunction, and impulsivity. Although evidence is limited to date, neuronal cell death, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction are reproduced by numerous metals. Understanding the specific contribution of metals/trace elements to this neurotoxicity can guide the development of more realistic animal exposure models of human AP exposure and consequently lead to a more meaningful approach to mechanistic studies, potential intervention strategies, and regulatory requirements.
Collapse
|
19
|
Maras K, Norris JE, Brewer N. Metacognitive Monitoring and Control of Eyewitness Memory Reports in Autism. Autism Res 2020; 13:2017-2029. [PMID: 32052919 PMCID: PMC7754119 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Revised: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Providing eyewitness testimony involves monitoring one's memory to provide a detailed and accurate account: reporting details likely to be accurate and withholding potentially inaccurate details. Autistic individuals reportedly experience difficulties in both retrieving episodic memories and monitoring their accuracy, which has important implications for eyewitness testimony. Thirty autistic and 33 IQ‐matched typically developing (TD) participants viewed a video of a mock bank robbery followed by three phases of questions (with judgments of confidence). In Phase 1, participants freely generated the granularity of their responses (i.e., fine‐ or coarse‐grained). In Phase 2, participants answered the same questions but provided both a fine‐ and a coarse‐grained answer. In Phase 3, participants were instructed to maximize accuracy over informativeness by selecting one of their Phase 2 answers as their final answer. They either received the questions socially (from the experimenter) or answered them online. There were no group differences in accuracy or metacognitive monitoring, with both autistic and TD witnesses demonstrating: (a) a strong preference for reporting fine‐grained details at the expense of accuracy; (b) improved though still suboptimal grain size reporting when instructed to maximize accuracy over informativeness; (c) effective accuracy monitoring; and (d) higher overall accuracy when questions were delivered socially. There was, however, a subtle difference in metacognitive control, with autistic witnesses performing more poorly than TD witnesses when questions were delivered socially, but not when they were delivered online. These findings contrast with evidence suggesting that autism is marked by impairments in episodic memory and metacognitive monitoring and control. Autism Res 2020, 13: 2017‐2029. © 2020 The Authors. Autism Research published by International Society for Autism Research published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Lay Summary Autistic people have been reported to experience subtle difficulties in monitoring and regulating their information reporting, which has important implications for providing eyewitness testimony. We found that autistic witnesses' testimony comprised a similar level of detail and accuracy as non‐autistic witnesses' accounts. However, autistic people found it difficult to optimize their testimony when the questions were delivered socially—but not when they answered the questions online. © 2020 The Authors. Autism Research published by International Society for Autism Research published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katie Maras
- Centre for Applied Autism Research, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
20
|
Mills GN, Garbarino JT, Raskin SA. Assessing prospective memory in children using the Memory for Intentions Screening Test for Youth (MISTY). Clin Neuropsychol 2020; 35:643-659. [PMID: 31933412 DOI: 10.1080/13854046.2019.1711198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Prospective memory (PM) is defined as the ability to remember to complete an intention in the future. The first aim of this study was to address the need for clinically useful measures of PM in children, by assessing the psychometric properties of a new measure of PM in children and adolescents, the Memory for Intentions Screening Test for Youth (MISTY). The second aim was to assess the relationship between prospective memory and age, particularly the relationships between age and the impact of different PM task demands. The third aim was to examine children's performance on different aspects of PM, such as time-based versus event-based cues. METHOD One-hundred twenty-four children between the ages of 4 and 15 were given the MISTY. RESULTS Analyses revealed good internal consistency among the eight individual MISTY trials and among the six MISTY subscales which included two different cue types (event-based and time-based), two different time delays (2 minutes and 10 minutes), and two different response types (action and verbal). Results also revealed good split-half and inter-rater reliability. Findings highlighted significant correlations between age and the MISTY total score and all subscales, consistent with PM lifespan research. On the MISTY, children overall performed better on event-based cues than on time-based cues, and on shorter time delays than longer ones; there was no effect of response type (i.e. action vs. verbal response). CONCLUSIONS The MISTY is a promising instrument with sound psychometric properties that could be useful in both clinical and research settings. Additionally, this study highlights the age-related process of PM development in children.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ginger N Mills
- Department of Psychology, University of Hartford, West Hartford, CT, USA
| | - Julianne T Garbarino
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Sarah A Raskin
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Trinity College, Hartford, CT, USA
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Desaunay P, Postel C, Bensaber F, Gonneaud J, Baleyte JM, Anger M, Guénolé F, Malvy J, Bonnet-Brilhault F, Eustache F, Desgranges B, Guillery-Girard B. Prospective Memory in Adolescents with Autism: A Preliminary Study of the Impact of Memory Load. Dev Neuropsychol 2019; 44:543-553. [PMID: 31738580 DOI: 10.1080/87565641.2019.1692020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
We evaluated event-based prospective memory (EBPM) in adolescents with Autism, varying the load of the to-be-performed intentions. We included measures of inhibition, working memory and binding. Results showed that increasing the retrospective memory load reduced performance in controls. In Autism, adolescents were impaired in the low load condition with normal performance for the ongoing task, with the reverse pattern in the high load condition. EBPM may be impacted in Autism due to difficulty to process ongoing and EBPM tasks simultaneously possibly because of restricted inhibitory control.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Desaunay
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, PSL Université Paris, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, Caen, France.,Service de Psychiatrie de l'enfant et de l'adolescent, CHU, Caen, France
| | - Charlotte Postel
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, PSL Université Paris, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, Caen, France
| | - Farah Bensaber
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, PSL Université Paris, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, Caen, France.,Service de Psychiatrie de l'enfant et de l'adolescent, Hôpital du Havre, Le Havre, France
| | - Julie Gonneaud
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, PSL Université Paris, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, Caen, France
| | - Jean-Marc Baleyte
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, PSL Université Paris, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, Caen, France.,Service de Psychiatrie de l'enfant et de l'adolescent, Hôpital Intercommunal de Créteil, Créteil, France
| | - Marine Anger
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, PSL Université Paris, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, Caen, France.,Service de Psychiatrie de l'enfant et de l'adolescent, CHU, Caen, France
| | - Fabian Guénolé
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, PSL Université Paris, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, Caen, France.,Service de Psychiatrie de l'enfant et de l'adolescent, CHU, Caen, France
| | - Joëlle Malvy
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, INSERM, Tours, France
| | | | - Francis Eustache
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, PSL Université Paris, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, Caen, France
| | - Béatrice Desgranges
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, PSL Université Paris, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, Caen, France
| | - Bérengère Guillery-Girard
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, PSL Université Paris, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, Caen, France
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Prospective memory (PM) has emerged as a form of episodic memory that is frequently impaired in a variety of clinical populations. Neuropsychologists who routinely evaluate these populations are often unaware of the possibility of PM deficits or the impact these deficits may have on everyday functioning. The objective of this special issue is to provide an overview of the nature of prospective deficits in a range of clinical populations, to discuss neuropsychological assessment techniques, and to critically evaluate management strategies. METHOD We solicited papers from established researchers and issued a general call for papers for the special issue on PM in clinical populations. RESULTS We received submissions from the nine authors that we solicited. These submissions range from developmental disorders, including autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and dyslexia; to disorders of adulthood, such as schizophrenia, HIV, brain injury, and multiple sclerosis; and finally disorders that tend to occur at older ages, such as Parkinson's disease and mild cognitive impairment. In addition, we have included four original research articles that provide novel data on other populations. These are children and adolescents with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, first-degree relatives of people with schizophrenia, individuals with mild brain injury, and individuals with idiopathic REM sleep behavioral disorder. CONCLUSIONS The issue highlights the need for clinical neuropsychologists to be aware of the possible existence of deficits in PM in a variety of clinical populations and the importance of both assessment and management strategies to reduce the impact on daily life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A Raskin
- a Neuroscience Program , Trinity College , Hartford , CT , USA.,b Department of Psychology , Trinity College , Hartford , CT , USA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Altgassen M, Sheppard DP, Hendriks MPH. Do importance instructions improve time-based prospective remembering in autism spectrum conditions? RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2019; 90:1-13. [PMID: 31015072 DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2019.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Revised: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
This study explored the impact of motivation on the memory for delayed intentions (so-called, prospective memory, PM) in autistic individuals. Specifically, we were interested in the effects of personal (i.e., receiving a reward) as compared to social motivation (i.e., performing a favour for someone). Given the well-established theory of mind deficits in autism, we expected autistic individuals to benefit more strongly from personal than social importance manipulations, whereas the opposite pattern was predicted for controls. Sixty-one adolescents with autism and 61 typically developing adolescents participated, with each group distributed equally to one of the three motivation conditions of standard, social and personal reward. Participants worked on a 2-back picture-based ongoing task in which a time-based PM task was embedded. A mixed 2 (Group) x 3 (Motivation condition) analysis of covariance with age, verbal and non-verbal abilities as covariates and correct PM responses as dependent variable indicated solely a main effect of group, with controls outperforming the autism group. In contrast to our expectations, there was no main effect of condition, no significant interaction, and none of the covariates had any significant impact. However, further planned analyses revealed that controls only outperformed autistic individuals in the personal reward condition. Controls performed significantly best when a personal reward was promised, whereas there were no significant differences between the motivation conditions for autistic individuals. Findings are discussed in terms of underlying processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mareike Altgassen
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, the Netherlands.
| | - Daniel P Sheppard
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, the Netherlands
| | - Marc P H Hendriks
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, the Netherlands; Academic Centre for Epileptology, Kempenhaeghe, Heeze, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|