Brief report: Schema consistent misinformation effects in eyewitnesses with autism spectrum disorder

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Background:

• Schema-related misinformation effects are documented in typical individuals.
• Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have challenges in generating event elements.
• Research has not explored misinformation effects in ASD witnesses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate schema-related misinformation effects in adults with ASD.
• To compare misinformation effects between adults with ASD and neurotypical controls.
• To assess understanding of event causality in ASD witnesses.

Main Methods:

• 16 adults with ASD and 16 matched neurotypical controls witnessed a bank robbery.
• Participants were exposed to post-event misinformation (schema-typical or schema-atypical).
• Recall of misinformation was assessed.

Main Results:

• Both the ASD group and the control group reported more schema-typical misinformation than schema-atypical misinformation.
• This pattern was consistent with previous findings in neurotypical populations.
• The ASD group demonstrated understanding of typical event sequences.

Conclusions:

• Individuals with ASD exhibit schema-related misinformation effects.
• This indicates that individuals with ASD possess an understanding of causal links in events.
• Findings have theoretical and applied implications for understanding ASD and eyewitness testimony.