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Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 10/2013

01-10-2013 | Original Paper

Practice Makes Improvement: How Adults with Autism Out-Perform Others in a Naturalistic Visual Search Task

Auteurs: Cleotilde Gonzalez, Jolie M. Martin, Nancy J. Minshew, Marlene Behrmann

Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders | Uitgave 10/2013

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Abstract

People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often exhibit superior performance in visual search compared to others. However, most studies demonstrating this advantage have employed simple, uncluttered images with fully visible targets. We compare the performance of high-functioning adults with ASD and matched controls on a naturalistic luggage screening task. Although the two groups were equally accurate in detecting targets, the ASD adults improve in their correct elimination of target-absent bags faster than controls. This feature of their behavior is extremely important for many real-world monitoring tasks that require sustained attention for long time periods. Further analyses suggest that this improvement is attributable neither to the motor speed nor to the level of intelligence of the adults with ASD. These findings may have possible implications for employment opportunities of adult individuals with ASD.
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Metagegevens
Titel
Practice Makes Improvement: How Adults with Autism Out-Perform Others in a Naturalistic Visual Search Task
Auteurs
Cleotilde Gonzalez
Jolie M. Martin
Nancy J. Minshew
Marlene Behrmann
Publicatiedatum
01-10-2013
Uitgeverij
Springer US
Gepubliceerd in
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders / Uitgave 10/2013
Print ISSN: 0162-3257
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-3432
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-013-1772-4

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