Category induction in autism: Slower, perhaps different, but certainly possible

Soulières, Isabelle; Mottron, Laurent; Giguère, Gyslain; Larochelle, Serge

doi:10.1080/17470218.2010.492994

Cited by 49 publications

(56 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…Thus, normal perceptual and conceptual priming have been reported in studies using words or pictures or music as stimuli (Bowler, Matthews, & Gardiner, 1997;Gardiner, Bowler, & Grice, 2003;Heaton, Williams, Cummins, & Happé, 2007;Renner et al, 2000;Toichi, 2008). Implicit category formation was unimpaired in a study by Molesworth, Bowler, and Hampton (2005) and unimpaired, although possibly atypically achieved, in studies by Bott, Brock, Brockdorff, Boucher, and Lamberts (2006) and by Soulières, Mottron, Giguère, & Larochelle (2011). Implicit learning of spatial context was unimpaired in a study by Barnes et al (2008).…”

Section: Nondeclarative Memorymentioning

confidence: 97%

Memory in autistic spectrum disorder.

Boucher¹,

Mayes²,

Bigham³

2012

Psychological Bulletin

174

189

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This is the accepted version of the paper.This version of the publication may differ from the final published version. Behavioral evidence concerning memory in high-functioning forms of autism (HFA) and in moderately low-functioning autism (M-LFA) is reviewed and compared. Findings on M-LFA are sparse. However, it is provisionally concluded that memory profiles in HFA and M-LFA (relative to ability-matched controls) are similar, but that declarative memory impairments are more extensive in M-LFA than in HFA. Specifically, both groups have diminished memory for emotion-or person-related stimuli. Regarding memory for non-social stimuli, both groups probably have mental-age appropriate nondeclarative memory; and within declarative memory, both groups have mental-age appropriate immediate free recall of within-span or supra-span lists of unrelated items, as well as cued recall and paired associate learning. By contrast, recognition is largely unimpaired in HFA but moderately impaired in M-LFA; and free recall of meaningful or structured stimuli is moderately impaired in HFA but more severely impaired in M-LFA. Permanent repository link:Theoretical explanations of data on declarative memory in HFA identify problems in the integrative processing, or the consolidation and storage, of complex stimuli; or a specific problem of recollection. Proposed neural substrates include the following: disconnectivity of primary sensory and association areas; dysfunctions of medial prefrontal cortex, hippocampus or posterior parietal lobe; or combinations of these associated with neural disconnectivity.Hypothetically, perirhinal dysfunction might explain the more extensive declarative memory impairments in M-LFA. Foreseeable consequences of uneven memory abilities in HFA and M-LFA are outlined, including possible effects on language and learning in M-LFA. Finally, priorities for future research are identified, highlighting the urgent need for research on memory in lower-functioning individuals. "It is impossible to separate the study of memory from that of autism" DeLong (2003, p. 741) Memory and learning are inseparable, and congenital or early acquired anomalies of memory will affect how and what an individual learns, which will in turn affect the course and outcomes of behavioral and brain development, including the ways in which an individual experiences and responds to the external world.It is well established that certain memory impairments are present in all individuals with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) (Boucher & Bowler, 2008). It is less clear, however, what differences there may be in the range and severity of memory impairments across the spectrum, from linguistically and intellectually able individuals with Asperger syndrome; through those high-functioning individuals in whom language is initially delayed but subsequently normalizes; through those with persistent, mild to moderate language impairment, usually accompanied by intellectual disability (ID); to the substantial subgroup of individuals with ASD who have ...

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Section: Nondeclarative Memorymentioning

confidence: 97%

Memory in autistic spectrum disorder.

Boucher¹,

Mayes²,

Bigham³

2012

Psychological Bulletin

174

189

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“…Poorer categorization performance (in terms of slower initial category learning, classification of distorted exemplars, or prototype formation) by individuals with ASD has been observed in studies using continuously varying stimuli (Bott et al, 2006;Church et al, 2010;Froehlich et al, 2012;Gastgeb et al, 2009Gastgeb et al, , 2011Gastgeb et al, , 2012Plaisted, 2000). Two other categorization studies, using discretely different exemplars, have found no categorization differences in ASD (Molesworth et al, 2005) or slower learning but comparable ability to utilize a categorization rule (Soulières et al, 2011a).…”

Section: Action 2: Noise Encourages Transitions Between Neural Statesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Low endogenous neural noise in autism

Davis

Plaisted-Grant

2014

Autism

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'Heuristic' theories of autism postulate that a single mechanism or process underpins the diverse psychological features of autism spectrum disorder. Although no such theory can offer a comprehensive account, the parsimonious descriptions they provide are powerful catalysts to autism research. One recent proposal holds that 'noisy' neuronal signalling explains not only some deficits in autism spectrum disorder, but also some superior abilities, due to 'stochastic resonance'. Here, we discuss three distinct actions of noise in neural networks, arguing in each case that autism spectrum disorder symptoms reflect too little, rather than too much, neural noise. Such reduced noise, perhaps a function of atypical brainstem activation, would enhance detection and discrimination in autism spectrum disorder but at significant cost, foregoing the widespread benefits of noise in neural networks.

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“…In assessing the extent to which the RGT correctly accounts for some evidence of reduced gestalt grouping by similarity among autistic people (Bolte et al, 2007;Falter et al, 2010), difficulties in accounting for a quasi-typical categorization performance (Molesworth et al, 2005;Soulières et al, 2011b) and the often replicated enhanced performance on pattern matching tasks (for a review, see Mottron et al, 2013a) must be considered. Accordingly, embedded figures, visual search, mental rotation, and block design tasks all imply detection of a similarity between a probe and a target.…”

Section: Reduced Generalizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Veridical mapping in the development of exceptional autistic abilities

Mottron¹,

Bouvet²,

Bonnel³

et al. 2013

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

Self Cite

207

162

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Superior perception, peaks of ability, and savant skills are often observed in the autistic phenotype. The enhanced perceptual functioning model (Mottron et al., 2006a) emphasizes the increased role and autonomy of perceptual information processing in autistic cognition. Autistic abilities also involve enhanced pattern detection, which may develop through veridical mapping across isomorphic perceptual and non-perceptual structures (Mottron et al., 2009). In this paper, we elaborate veridical mapping as a specific mechanism which can explain the higher incidence of savant abilities, as well as other related phenomena, in autism. We contend that savant abilities such as hyperlexia, but also absolute pitch and synaesthesia, involve similar neurocognitive components, share the same structure and developmental course, and represent related ways by which the perceptual brain deals with objective structures under different conditions. Plausibly, these apparently different phenomena develop through a veridical mapping mechanism whereby perceptual information is coupled with homological data drawn from within or across isomorphic structures. The atypical neural connectivity characteristic of autism is consistent with a developmental predisposition to veridical mapping and the resulting high prevalence of savant abilities, absolute pitch, and synaesthesia in autism.

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Category induction in autism: Slower, perhaps different, but certainly possible

Cited by 49 publications

References 41 publications

Memory in autistic spectrum disorder.

Memory in autistic spectrum disorder.

Low endogenous neural noise in autism

Veridical mapping in the development of exceptional autistic abilities

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