Two Faces of a Coin? A Systematic Review of Source Monitoring and Its Relationship with Memory in Autism

Abstract

The ability to discriminate the origin of stimuli, known as source monitoring, is crucial for self–other distinction and the integration of internally generated and externally generated experiences. Despite its valence, evidence on source monitoring in autism is yet scarce and unclear. We systematically reviewed literature concerning source monitoring in autism and its relationship with other constructs, such as memory type, encoding effects, social cognition, general intelligence, and clinical factors. Source-monitoring performance (operationalized as error or accuracy) was reduced in autistic participants in 9 of the 15 studies that met the inclusion criteria. When explicitly investigated, free-recall memory impairments in autism were shown to influence source monitoring deficits. General intelligence was another important factor linked to source-monitoring performance. Conversely, other memory types or encoding effects were not impaired in autism, and no univocal association could be found with source monitoring. Social cognition and clinical symptoms were rarely assessed in spite of their possible involvement in source monitoring. The heterogeneity of the task design, outcome measures and demographical factors limited study comparability. As a research framework on source monitoring as a construct of primary interest in autism is still lacking, we propose preliminary indications for future investigations based on the collected findings.

Understanding source monitoring subtypes and their relation to psychosis: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…Positive correlation of SM performance and several subsets of cognitive skills were found, but with very few replications (including memory). Besides, it must be noted that >60% of the included studies matched PSY and HC by IQ and yet found important differences in SM between groups, in line with the view that SM and cognition are only partially overlapping constructs 72 …”

“…Novel approaches suggest that SM may be an objective measure of deeply subjective disorders such as anomalous self‐experiences 53,83 by testing the very notion of self as a “principle of identity.” 69 Based on our findings, we pose that the internal/imagined category of stimuli may be the primary proxy on which the subject relies on when determining its separate existence from the surrounding world, and that this dynamic is fundamentally altered in psychosis. This hypothesis is supported by the fact that reduced SM performance is lower not only in psychosis, but also in at risk mental states, 84 autism 72 and Alzheimer's disease 85 which are conditions where self‐disturbances are relevant. Conversely, no SM deficits have been reported for conditions where self is preserved, such as major depressive disorder 34 .…”

“…Besides, it must be noted that >60% of the included studies matched PSY and HC by IQ and yet found important differences in SM between groups, in line with the view that SM and cognition are only partially overlapping constructs. 72 Source discrimination and stimulus modality: does the difference lie in the source? Of the two SM classifications adopted for the main analysis, source discrimination-based comparisons were similar in terms of effect sizes, although slightly increased differences between PSY and HC were present for internal stimuli sources (ISM and RMe).…”

Still a Long Way to Go. Editorial for the Special Issue “Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder”

“…Fourth, Kadlaskar et al [27] compared different aspects of tactile cues between autistic and typically developing children, further underlying the importance of research on sensory processing in this population. Finally, Damiani et al reviewed the literature concerning source monitoring, a crucial skill for self-other distinction and integration between internally-and externally-generated experiences [28].…”