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Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

Gepubliceerd in:

01-01-2010 | Original Paper

Impaired Competence for Pretense in Children with Autism: Exploring Potential Cognitive Predictors

Auteur: Sally Bigham

Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders | Uitgave 1/2010

Abstract

Lack of pretense in children with autism has been explained by a number of theoretical explanations, including impaired mentalising, impaired response inhibition, and weak central coherence. This study aimed to empirically test each of these theories. Children with autism (n = 60) were significantly impaired relative to controls (n = 65) when interpreting pretense, thereby supporting a competence deficit hypothesis. They also showed impaired mentalising and response inhibition, but superior local processing indicating weak central coherence. Regression analyses revealed that mentalising significantly and independently predicted pretense. The results are interpreted as supporting the impaired mentalising theory and evidence against competing theories invoking impaired response inhibition or a local processing bias. The results of this study have important implications for treatment and intervention.

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volgende artikel Unimpaired Perception of Social and Physical Causality, but Impaired Perception of Animacy in High Functioning Children with Autism

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Titel: Impaired Competence for Pretense in Children with Autism: Exploring Potential Cognitive Predictors
Auteur: Sally Bigham
Publicatiedatum: 01-01-2010
Uitgeverij: Springer US
Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders / Uitgave 1/2010
Print ISSN: 0162-3257
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-3432
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-009-0820-6

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