Abstract
The present study is the first to directly compare event- and time-based prospective memory in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
using a contextual task mirroring real life demands of prospective memory. Twenty-five individuals with ASD and 25 age- and
ability-matched controls completed the Dresden Breakfast task which required participants to prepare breakfast following a
set of rules and time restrictions. Overall, adults with ASD had less correct time- and event-based prospective memory responses
in comparison to controls, which is consistent with previous research in children with ASD. Moreover, ASD participants completed
fewer tasks, followed rules less closely, and monitored the elapsing time less closely than controls. Individuals with ASD
seem not to be compensating in naturalistic prospective memory tasks.
using a contextual task mirroring real life demands of prospective memory. Twenty-five individuals with ASD and 25 age- and
ability-matched controls completed the Dresden Breakfast task which required participants to prepare breakfast following a
set of rules and time restrictions. Overall, adults with ASD had less correct time- and event-based prospective memory responses
in comparison to controls, which is consistent with previous research in children with ASD. Moreover, ASD participants completed
fewer tasks, followed rules less closely, and monitored the elapsing time less closely than controls. Individuals with ASD
seem not to be compensating in naturalistic prospective memory tasks.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s10803-012-1466-3
- Authors
- Mareike Altgassen, Department of Psychology, Technische Universitaet Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Nancy Koban, Department of Psychology, Technische Universitaet Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Matthias Kliegel, Department of Psychology, Technische Universitaet Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Journal Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
- Online ISSN 1573-3432
- Print ISSN 0162-3257