Skip to main content
Top
Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 5/2008

01-05-2008 | Original Paper

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

Auteurs: Catherine S. Best, Vivien J. Moffat, Michael J. Power, David G. C. Owens, Eve C. Johnstone

Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders | Uitgave 5/2008

Log in om toegang te krijgen
share
DELEN

Deel dit onderdeel of sectie (kopieer de link)

  • Optie A:
    Klik op de rechtermuisknop op de link en selecteer de optie “linkadres kopiëren”
  • Optie B:
    Deel de link per e-mail

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.
Literatuur
go back to reference American Psychiatric Association. (2000). DSM-IV-TR. Washington, DC. American Psychiatric Association. (2000). DSM-IV-TR. Washington, DC.
go back to reference Baron-Cohen, S. (1989). The autistic child’s theory of mind: A case of specific developmental delay. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 30, 285–297.PubMedCrossRef Baron-Cohen, S. (1989). The autistic child’s theory of mind: A case of specific developmental delay. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 30, 285–297.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Baron-Cohen, S. (1995). Mindblindness: An essay on autism and theory of mind. Cambridge: MIT Press. Baron-Cohen, S. (1995). Mindblindness: An essay on autism and theory of mind. Cambridge: MIT Press.
go back to reference Baron-Cohen, S., Leslie, A. M., et al. (1985). Does the autistic child have a ‘theory of mind’? Cognition, 21, 37–46.PubMedCrossRef Baron-Cohen, S., Leslie, A. M., et al. (1985). Does the autistic child have a ‘theory of mind’? Cognition, 21, 37–46.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Baron-Cohen, S., Wheelwright, S., Skinner, R., et al. (2001). The autism-spectrum quotient (AQ): Evidence from Asperger syndrome/high-functioning autism, males and females, scientists and mathematicians. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 31, 5–17.PubMedCrossRef Baron-Cohen, S., Wheelwright, S., Skinner, R., et al. (2001). The autism-spectrum quotient (AQ): Evidence from Asperger syndrome/high-functioning autism, males and females, scientists and mathematicians. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 31, 5–17.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Berument, S. K., Rutter, M., Lord, C., et al. (1999). Autism screening questionnaire: Diagnostic validity. British Journal of Psychiatry, 175, 444–451.PubMedCrossRef Berument, S. K., Rutter, M., Lord, C., et al. (1999). Autism screening questionnaire: Diagnostic validity. British Journal of Psychiatry, 175, 444–451.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Bialystok, E., & Shapero, D. (2005). Ambiguous benefits: The effect of bilingualism on reversing ambiguous figures. Developmental Science, 8, 595.PubMedCrossRef Bialystok, E., & Shapero, D. (2005). Ambiguous benefits: The effect of bilingualism on reversing ambiguous figures. Developmental Science, 8, 595.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Gopnik, A., & Rosati, A. (2001). Duck or rabbit? Reversing ambiguous figures and understanding ambiguous representations. Developmental Science, 4, 175–183.CrossRef Gopnik, A., & Rosati, A. (2001). Duck or rabbit? Reversing ambiguous figures and understanding ambiguous representations. Developmental Science, 4, 175–183.CrossRef
go back to reference Happé, F. (1996). Studying weak central coherence at low levels: Children with autism do not succumb to visual illusions. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 37, 873–877.PubMedCrossRef Happé, F. (1996). Studying weak central coherence at low levels: Children with autism do not succumb to visual illusions. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 37, 873–877.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Happé, F., & Frith, U. (2006). The weak coherence account: Detail-focused cognitive style in autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 36, 5–25.PubMedCrossRef Happé, F., & Frith, U. (2006). The weak coherence account: Detail-focused cognitive style in autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 36, 5–25.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Happé, F., Ronald, A., & Plomin, R. (2006). Time to give up on a single explanation for autism. Nature Neuroscience, 9, 1218–1220.PubMedCrossRef Happé, F., Ronald, A., & Plomin, R. (2006). Time to give up on a single explanation for autism. Nature Neuroscience, 9, 1218–1220.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Johnstone, E. C., Owens, D. G., Hoare, P., et al. (2007). Schizotypal cognitions as a predictor of psychopathology in adolescents with mild intellectual impairment. British Journal of Psychiatry (in press). Johnstone, E. C., Owens, D. G., Hoare, P., et al. (2007). Schizotypal cognitions as a predictor of psychopathology in adolescents with mild intellectual impairment. British Journal of Psychiatry (in press).
go back to reference Kanner, L. (1943). Autistic disturbances of affective contact. Nervous child, 2, 217–250. Kanner, L. (1943). Autistic disturbances of affective contact. Nervous child, 2, 217–250.
go back to reference Kunihira, Y., Senju, A., Dairoku, H., et al. (2006). ‘Autistic’ traits in non-autistic Japanese populations: Relationships with personality traits and cognitive ability. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 36(4), 553–566.PubMedCrossRef Kunihira, Y., Senju, A., Dairoku, H., et al. (2006). ‘Autistic’ traits in non-autistic Japanese populations: Relationships with personality traits and cognitive ability. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 36(4), 553–566.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Lord C, Risi S, Lambrecht L, et al. (2000). The autism diagnostic observation schedule-generic: A standard measure of social and communication deficits associated with the spectrum of autism. Journal Autism and Developmental Disorders, 30(3), 205–223.CrossRef Lord C, Risi S, Lambrecht L, et al. (2000). The autism diagnostic observation schedule-generic: A standard measure of social and communication deficits associated with the spectrum of autism. Journal Autism and Developmental Disorders, 30(3), 205–223.CrossRef
go back to reference Medical Research Council. (2001). MRC review of autism research: Epidemiology and causes. Medical Research Council. Medical Research Council. (2001). MRC review of autism research: Epidemiology and causes. Medical Research Council.
go back to reference Miller, P., Byrne, M., Hodges, A., et al. (2002). Schizotypal components in people at high risk of developing schizophrenia: Early findings from the Edinburgh high-risk study. British Journal of Psychiatry, 180, 179–184.PubMedCrossRef Miller, P., Byrne, M., Hodges, A., et al. (2002). Schizotypal components in people at high risk of developing schizophrenia: Early findings from the Edinburgh high-risk study. British Journal of Psychiatry, 180, 179–184.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Ropar, D., & Mitchell, P. (1999). Are individuals with autism and Asperger’s syndrome susceptible to visual illusions. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 40, 1283–1293.PubMedCrossRef Ropar, D., & Mitchell, P. (1999). Are individuals with autism and Asperger’s syndrome susceptible to visual illusions. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 40, 1283–1293.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Ropar, D., & Mitchell, P. (2001). Susceptibility to illusions and performance on visuospatial tasks in individuals with autism. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 42, 539–549.PubMedCrossRef Ropar, D., & Mitchell, P. (2001). Susceptibility to illusions and performance on visuospatial tasks in individuals with autism. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 42, 539–549.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Ropar, D., Mitchell, P., & Ackroyd, K. (2003). Do children with autism find it difficult to offer alternative interpretations to ambiguous figures? British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 21, 387–395.CrossRef Ropar, D., Mitchell, P., & Ackroyd, K. (2003). Do children with autism find it difficult to offer alternative interpretations to ambiguous figures? British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 21, 387–395.CrossRef
go back to reference Russell J. (Ed). (1997). Autism as an executive disorder. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Russell J. (Ed). (1997). Autism as an executive disorder. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
go back to reference Shah, A., & Frith, U. (1993). Why do autistic individuals show superior performance on the block design task? Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 34, 1351–1364.PubMedCrossRef Shah, A., & Frith, U. (1993). Why do autistic individuals show superior performance on the block design task? Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 34, 1351–1364.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Sobel, D. M., Capps, L., & Gopnik, A. (2005). Ambiguous figure perception and theory of mind understanding in children with autistic spectrum disorders. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 23, 159–174.CrossRef Sobel, D. M., Capps, L., & Gopnik, A. (2005). Ambiguous figure perception and theory of mind understanding in children with autistic spectrum disorders. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 23, 159–174.CrossRef
go back to reference Wechsler, D. (1992). Wechsler intelligence scale for children (3rd ed.). London: The Psychological Corporation. Wechsler, D. (1992). Wechsler intelligence scale for children (3rd ed.). London: The Psychological Corporation.
go back to reference Wechsler, D. (1999). Wechsler adult intelligence scale (3rd ed.). London: Harcourt Assessment. Wechsler, D. (1999). Wechsler adult intelligence scale (3rd ed.). London: Harcourt Assessment.
go back to reference Wing, L. (1988). Autism: Possible clues to the underlying pathology: 1. clinical facts. In L. Wing (Ed.), Aspects of autism-biological research. London: Gaskell. Wing, L. (1988). Autism: Possible clues to the underlying pathology: 1. clinical facts. In L. Wing (Ed.), Aspects of autism-biological research. London: Gaskell.
go back to reference Yirmiya, N., Erel, O., Shaked, M., & Solomonica-Levi, D. (1998). Meta-analyses comparing theory of mind abilities of individuals with autism, individuals with mental retardation, and normally developing individuals. Psychological Bulletin, 124, 283–307.PubMedCrossRef Yirmiya, N., Erel, O., Shaked, M., & Solomonica-Levi, D. (1998). Meta-analyses comparing theory of mind abilities of individuals with autism, individuals with mental retardation, and normally developing individuals. Psychological Bulletin, 124, 283–307.PubMedCrossRef
Metagegevens
Titel
The Boundaries of the Cognitive Phenotype of Autism: Theory of Mind, Central Coherence and Ambiguous Figure Perception in Young People with Autistic Traits
Auteurs
Catherine S. Best
Vivien J. Moffat
Michael J. Power
David G. C. Owens
Eve C. Johnstone
Publicatiedatum
01-05-2008
Uitgeverij
Springer US
Gepubliceerd in
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders / Uitgave 5/2008
Print ISSN: 0162-3257
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-3432
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-007-0451-8

Andere artikelen Uitgave 5/2008

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 5/2008 Naar de uitgave