The Boundaries of the Cognitive Phenotype of Autism: Theory of Mind, Central Coherence and Ambiguous Figure Perception in Young People with Autistic Traits

Abstract

Theory of Mind, Weak Central Coherence and executive dysfunction, were investigated as a function of behavioural markers of autism. This was irrespective of the presence or absence of a diagnosis of an autistic spectrum disorder. Sixty young people completed the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ), false belief tests, the block design test, viewed visual illusions and an ambiguous figure. A logistic regression was performed and it was found that Theory of Mind, central coherence and ambiguous figure variables significantly contributed to prediction of behavioural markers of autism. These findings provide support for the continuum hypothesis of autism. That is, mild autistic behavioural traits are distributed through the population and these behavioural traits may have the same underlying cognitive determinants as autistic disorder.

Modeling the impact of social problem-solving deficits on depressive vulnerability in the broader autism phenotype

“…There is growing evidence that ASD represents the extreme end of a phenotypical continuum that is expressed to varying levels in both clinically identified and neurotypical populations (Best, Moffat, Power, Owens, & Johnstone, 2008). Additionally, studies exploring subthreshold expression of ASD phenotype traits have not only shown that the cognitive and behavioral characteristics associated with ASD are not confined to those with a diagnosis, but individuals who express elevated levels of these traits are also more susceptible to milder versions of a number of the psychiatric and psychosocial difficulties found in individuals with ASD as well (Best et al, 2008;Kanne, Christ, & Reiersen, 2009).…”

“…Additionally, studies exploring subthreshold expression of ASD phenotype traits have not only shown that the cognitive and behavioral characteristics associated with ASD are not confined to those with a diagnosis, but individuals who express elevated levels of these traits are also more susceptible to milder versions of a number of the psychiatric and psychosocial difficulties found in individuals with ASD as well (Best et al, 2008;Kanne, Christ, & Reiersen, 2009). It has been proposed (Kanne, et al, 2009;Kunihira, Senju, Dairoku, Wakabayashi, & Hasegawa, 2006) that these findings provide evidence to support the feasibility and utility of examining subthreshold expression of the traits associated with the ASD phenotype in neurotypical samples as a proxy for individuals with an ASD.…”

Sensitivity to the prototype in children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder: An example of Bayesian cognitive psychometrics

“…Even within the cognitive domain, symptoms related to executive functioning on the one hand and focus on detail and the difficulty to integrate information on the other may not be caused by the same underlying principles (see e.g., Best et al 2008;Happé & Booth 2008;Lawson et al 2004). The present findings are consistent with this hypothesis, as different subgroups were clearly identified in the classification behavior.…”

Teoria da Mente em Pais de Pessoas com Autismo: Uma Análise Comparativa

“…Há três supostos endofenótipos cognitivos que vêm sendo estudados para o autismo: défi -cits de teoria da mente, função executiva e fraca coerência central. Tais hipóteses cognitivas do autismo se propõem a lançar luz a diferentes características centrais ao transtorno (Best, Moffat, Power, Owens, & Johnstone, 2008;Pellicano, Maybery, Durkin, & Maley 2006).…”

“…Estes défi cits já foram amplamente documentados na literatura (Best et al, 2008;Pellicano et al, 2006). Considerando-se as evidências de que a herdabilidade no autismo se encontra em torno de 80% (Ronald & Hoekstra, 2011), hipotetiza-se sobre a presença de défi cit de teoria da mente também em familiares de pessoas com autismo.…”