Abstract
There is a growing amount of evidence suggesting that individuals with autism have difficulty with categorization. One basic
cognitive ability that may underlie this difficulty is the ability to abstract a prototype. The current study examined prototype
and category formation with dot patterns in high-functioning adults with autism and matched controls. Individuals with autism
were found to have difficulty forming prototypes and categories of dot patterns. The eye-tracking data did not reveal any
between group differences in attention to the dot patterns. However, relationships between performance and intelligence in
the autism group suggest possible processing differences between the groups. Results are consistent with previous studies
that have found deficits in prototype formation and extend these deficits to dot patterns.
cognitive ability that may underlie this difficulty is the ability to abstract a prototype. The current study examined prototype
and category formation with dot patterns in high-functioning adults with autism and matched controls. Individuals with autism
were found to have difficulty forming prototypes and categories of dot patterns. The eye-tracking data did not reveal any
between group differences in attention to the dot patterns. However, relationships between performance and intelligence in
the autism group suggest possible processing differences between the groups. Results are consistent with previous studies
that have found deficits in prototype formation and extend these deficits to dot patterns.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s10803-011-1411-x
- Authors
- Holly Zajac Gastgeb, Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Eva M. Dundas, Department of Psychology, Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Nancy J. Minshew, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Webster Hall—Suite 300, 3811 O’Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Mark S. Strauss, Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Journal Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
- Online ISSN 1573-3432
- Print ISSN 0162-3257