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Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

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01-04-2010 | Original Paper

Stimulus Characteristics Affect Humor Processing in Individuals with Asperger Syndrome

Auteurs: Andrea C. Samson, Michael Hegenloh

Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders | Uitgave 4/2010

Abstract

The present paper aims to investigate whether individuals with Asperger syndrome (AS) show global humor processing deficits or whether humor comprehension and appreciation depends on stimulus characteristics. Non-verbal visual puns, semantic and Theory of Mind cartoons were rated on comprehension, funniness and the punchlines were explained. AS individuals did not differ to the control group in humor appreciation of visual puns. However, they had difficulty understanding and appreciating Theory of Mind cartoons and provided mentalistic explanations less frequently than controls suggesting that humor processing is strongly related to the cognitive requirements that the stimuli pose on the perceiver. Furthermore, AS individuals referred in all conditions more frequently to non-joke relevant details. Therefore, humor processing is also influenced by their detail-oriented processing style.

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If the incongruent element of a joke is presented in the end of a verbal joke, people have to trace back to the information given in the beginning of the joke in order to reinterpret the already heard/read information in a funny way.

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Titel: Stimulus Characteristics Affect Humor Processing in Individuals with Asperger Syndrome
Auteurs: Andrea C. Samson
Michael Hegenloh
Publicatiedatum: 01-04-2010
Uitgeverij: Springer US
Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders / Uitgave 4/2010
Print ISSN: 0162-3257
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-3432
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-009-0885-2

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