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Updated: Jun 10, 2026
09:13
Testing Sensory and Multisensory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Published on: April 22, 2015
Memory and the self in autism: A review and theoretical framework
1City University, London, UK. sophie.lind@durham.ac.uk
Summary
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have weaker psychological self-knowledge, impacting autobiographical memory and self-reference effects. Memory for actions and non-autobiographical memory may involve other factors beyond self-concept in ASD.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Research
Background:
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by social and communication impairments.
- These impairments may affect self-knowledge and, consequently, memory processes.
- Existing research explores various memory types in ASD, including autobiographical and episodic memory.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review research on memory and self-concept in ASD.
- To propose a theoretical framework for the relationship between memory and self in ASD.
- To explain specific memory patterns observed in individuals with ASD.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on autobiographical memory, self-reference effect, self-enactment effect, and non-autobiographical episodic memory in ASD.
- Theoretical analysis integrating findings on self-knowledge and memory.
- Examination of the role of psychological versus physical self-knowledge.
Main Results:
- Individuals with ASD exhibit diminished psychological self-knowledge but intact physical self-knowledge, leading to an under-elaborated self-concept.
- Impaired autobiographical episodic memory and a reduced self-reference effect in ASD are linked to psychological self-concept deficits.
- Memory for own actions versus others' actions (self-enactment) is not specifically impaired, suggesting reliance on physical self-knowledge.
Conclusions:
- Memory impairments in ASD, particularly in non-autobiographical episodic memory, may involve factors beyond self-related processes, such as memory binding deficits.
- Deficits in autobiographical memory and future thinking may contribute to a diminished temporally extended self-concept in ASD.
- The findings highlight the complex interplay between self-concept, memory, and social-communication impairments in autism spectrum disorder.
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