ERIC Number: EJ1133678
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017-Mar
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0162-3257
EISSN: N/A
Understanding Behavioural Rigidity in Autism Spectrum Conditions: The Role of Intentional Control
Poljac, Edita; Hoofs, Vincent; Princen, Myrthe M.; Poljac, Ervin
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, v47 n3 p714-727 Mar 2017
Although behavioural rigidity belongs to the core symptoms of autism spectrum conditions, little is known about its underlying cognitive mechanisms. The current study investigated the role of intentional control mechanisms in behavioural rigidity in autism. Autistic individuals and their matched controls were instructed to repeatedly choose between two simple cognitive tasks and to respond accordingly to the subsequently presented stimulus. Results showed that autistic participants chose to repeat tasks more often than their controls and when choosing to switch, they demonstrated larger performance costs. These findings illustrate that when required to make their own choices, autistic people demonstrate rigidity at different performance levels, suggesting that intentional control mechanisms might be important for a better understanding of behavioural rigidity in autism.
Descriptors: Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Behavior Problems, Intention, Self Control, Cognitive Processes, Comparative Analysis, Responses, Stimuli, Performance, Decision Making
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A