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Motivational processes and autonomic responsivity in Asperger's disorder: Evidence from the Iowa Gambling Task

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 September 2006

SHANNON A. JOHNSON ,
ELDAD YECHIAM ,
ROBIN R. MURPHY ,
SARAH QUELLER  and
JULIE C. STOUT
SHANNON A. JOHNSON
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
ELDAD YECHIAM
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
ROBIN R. MURPHY
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
SARAH QUELLER
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
JULIE C. STOUT
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
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Abstract

Asperger's disorder (ASP), like other autism spectrum disorders, is associated with altered responsiveness to social stimuli. This study investigated learning and responsiveness to nonsocial, but motivational, stimuli in ASP. We examined choice behavior and galvanic skin conductance responses (SCRs) during the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT; Bechara et al., 1994) in 15 adolescents and young adults with ASP and 14 comparison subjects. We examined aspects of learning, attention to wins and losses, and response style with a formal cognitive model, the Expectancy–Valence Learning model (Busemeyer & Stout, 2002). The ASP group did not differ from the comparison group in proportions of selections from advantageous decks. However, ASP participants showed a distinct pattern of selection characterized by frequent shifts between the four IGT decks, whereas comparison participants developed clear deck preferences. SCR results showed some evidence of reduced responsiveness in the ASP group during the IGT. Results from the cognitive model indicated that, in contrast to the comparison group, the ASP group's selections were less consistent with the motivational significance they assigned to decks. Findings are discussed in the context of the neurobiological substrates associated with IGT performance (JINS, 2006, 12, 668–676.)

Keywords

AutismDecision-makingChoice behaviorGalvanic skin responseLearningMathematical model
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 12 , Issue 5 , September 2006 , pp. 668 - 676
Copyright
© 2006 The International Neuropsychological Society

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