Agency and reward across development and in autism: A free-choice paradigm

Abstract

Our ability to perform voluntary actions and make choices is shaped by the motivation from control over the resulting effects (agency) and from positive outcomes (reward). The underlying action-outcome binding mechanisms rely on sensorimotor abilities that specialise through child development and undergo different trajectories in autism. The study aimed at disentangling the role of agency and reward in driving action selection of autistic and non-autistic children and adults, who were asked to freely select one of three candies and feed the animals appearing on a tablet. The candies were associated with different probabilities of delivering a neutral vs no effect (agency task), or a positive vs neutral effect (reward task). Choices and reaction times (RT) were measured to understand whether participants preferred and were faster at selecting options with higher probability of producing a neutral vs. no effect (agency) or a positive vs. neutral effect (reward). Participants’ choices and RT were not affected by agency, whereas a more frequent selection of the option with higher probability of a positive vs. neutral effect emerged across groups, thus suggesting a reward effect. Autistic participants selected less frequently the option with chance level of receiving a neutral or no effect, which could be interpreted as a sign of reduced tolerance of uncertainty. Across tasks, conditions and age groups, autistic participants presented shorter RT, which is a marker of reduced action planning and control. Future research should deepen how tolerance of uncertainty, action planning and control impact the way autistic individuals make choices in everyday life situations, potentially contributing to restricted and repetitive behaviours.

Haptic Technology: A Valuable Paradigm for Reinforcing Learning Processes in Early Childhood Special Education

“…They can be applied as diagnostic assistant tools in some cases such as ADHD, and as assistants for treating the condition, however, research is still in its infancy. For example, the study of how ASD children regard agency and reward has been carried out using games in tactile platforms [83]. From a commercial point of view, a plethora of apps are in the market targeting ASD children, though most of them are of little value [84] even if they claim the use of artificial intelligence techniques.…”

Interpersonal motor synchrony in autism: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…As suggested by Schoenherr et al (95), the specific aspect of synchrony being measured relies on the algorithm employed and the resulting score utilized. Accordingly, the literature on the field of motor development indicates that different motor parameters are associated with distinct neural activities and influenced by various factors such as cognitive, metacognitive, sensory, and social processes (96)(97)(98). However, specific mappings between measurement methods and underlying aspects of IMS require further investigation.…”