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Time-Based Prospective Memory in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2012

Mareike Altgassen*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany. altgassen@psychologie.tu-dresden.de
Tim I. Williams
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Reading, United Kingdom.
Sven Bölte
Affiliation:
Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, J.W. Goethe-University, Germany.
Matthias Kliegel
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany.
*
*Address for correspondence: Mareike Altgassen, PhD, Technische Universität Dresden, Department of Psychology, D-01062 Dresden, Germany.
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Abstract

In this study, for the first time, prospective memory was investigated in 11 school-aged children with autism spectrum disorders and 11 matched neurotypical controls. A computerised time-based prospective memory task was embedded in a visuospatial working memory test and required participants to remember to respond to certain target times. Controls had significantly more correct prospective memory responses than the autism spectrum group. Moreover, controls checked the time more often and increased time-monitoring more steeply as the target times approached. These differences in time-checking may suggest that prospective memory in autism spectrum disorders is affected by reduced self-initiated processing as indicated by reduced task monitoring.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

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