Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 28, 2026
05:32
Comparing Eye-tracking Data of Children with High-functioning ASD, Comorbid ADHD, and of a Control Watching Social Videos
Published on: December 7, 2018
Brief report: visuospatial analysis and self-rated autistic-like traits.
Emma J Grinter1, Pia L Van Beek, Murray T Maybery
1School of Psychology, University of Western Australia, WA, Australia. grinte01@student.uwa.edu.au
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
|October 25, 2008
Summary
Individuals with autistic-like traits show enhanced visuospatial skills, similar to autism spectrum disorder. This suggests cognitive differences in the general population relate to autism spectrum characteristics.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive psychology
- Neurodevelopmental disorders
Background:
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by distinct behavioral and cognitive features.
- Evidence suggests autistic traits exist on a spectrum within the general population.
- Cognitive aspects of milder autistic traits remain under-researched.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if visuospatial analysis superiority, seen in autism, extends to individuals with autistic-like traits in the general population.
- To explore the relationship between self-reported autistic traits and visuospatial cognitive abilities.
Main Methods:
- Two studies were conducted using the Autism-spectrum Quotient (AQ) to identify individuals with autistic-like traits.
- Participants completed visuospatial tasks: the Embedded Figures Test (EFT) and the Block Design subscale of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale III.
- Performance (speed and accuracy) on these tests was compared between high and low AQ scorers.
Main Results:
- Students with high AQ scores demonstrated superior speed and accuracy on the EFT and Block Design tasks compared to low AQ scorers.
- High AQ scorers were faster on the EFT regardless of their overall IQ.
- These findings indicate a link between autistic-like traits and enhanced visuospatial processing.
Conclusions:
- Visuospatial analysis advantages associated with autism spectrum disorder may be present in the general population among individuals with autistic-like traits.
- Results support the weak central coherence theory in understanding cognitive styles across the autism spectrum.
- The study highlights the continuum of cognitive features related to autism spectrum characteristics.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction alongside restrictive and repetitive behaviors or interests. ASD is sometimes accompanied by intellectual impairment.
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
01:22Self-Report Tests of Personality
Self-report inventories are objective personality assessments that use multiple-choice items or numbered scales, typically ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). They are often called Likert scales after Rensis Likert. These inventories are widely used due to their ease of administration and cost-effectiveness. One of the most prominent examples is the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), initially developed in the 1940s to assess abnormal personality traits.