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Recognition memory and source memory in autism spectrum disorder: A study of the intention superiority and enactments effects

Grainger, Catherine, Williams, David M., Lind, Sophie E. (2016) Recognition memory and source memory in autism spectrum disorder: A study of the intention superiority and enactments effects. Autism, 21 (7). pp. 812-820. ISSN 1362-3613. (doi:10.1177/1362361316653364) (KAR id:56127)

Abstract

It is well established that neurotypical individuals generally show better memory for actions they have performed than actions they have observed others perform or merely read about, a so-called “enactment effect”. Strikingly, research has also shown that neurotypical individuals demonstrate superior memory for actions they intend to perform in the future (but have not yet performed), an effect commonly known as the “intention superiority effect”.

Although the enactment effect has been studied among people with ASD, the current study is the first to investigate the intention superiority effect in this disorder. This is surprising given the potential importance this issue has for general theory development, as well as for clinical practice. As such, this study aimed to assess the intention superiority and enactment effects in twenty-two children with ASD, and 20 IQ/age-matched neurotypical children.

The results showed that children with ASD demonstrated not only undiminished enactment effects in recognition and source memory, but also (surprisingly for some theories) typical intention superiority effects. The implications of these results for theory, as well as clinical practice, are discussed.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1177/1362361316653364
Uncontrolled keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; Recognition memory; Source memory; Intention superiority effect; Enactment effect; Action monitoring; Episodic foresight; Motor encoding
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Psychology
Depositing User: David Williams
Date Deposited: 23 Jun 2016 13:31 UTC
Last Modified: 04 Mar 2024 18:24 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/56127 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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