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Motor imagery in Asperger syndrome: testing action simulation by the hand laterality task
Massimiliano Conson1, Elisabetta Mazzarella, Alessandro Frolli
1Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Second University of Naples, Caserta, Italy. massimiliano.conson@unina2.it
Plos One
|July 30, 2013
Summary
Adolescents with Asperger syndrome (AS) show altered motor imagery skills, specifically lacking the biomechanical effect in hand laterality tasks. This suggests a specific deficit in action simulation processes in autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Asperger syndrome (AS), a form of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), involves challenges in social interaction, communication, and behavior.
- Previous research on action simulation in ASD yielded inconsistent results, particularly concerning imitation and action observation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate action simulation processes in adolescents with AS using a motor imagery task.
- To specifically examine the biomechanical effect as a marker of action simulation in hand rotation tasks.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the classical hand laterality task to assess motor imagery.
- Evaluated mental rotation of letters and the biomechanical effect (advantage for comfortable vs. awkward hand positions).
- Compared performance between adolescents with AS and typically developing participants.
Main Results:
- The biomechanical effect was present in typically developing individuals but absent in participants with AS.
- No significant differences were found between groups in overall performance on hand laterality or letter rotation tasks.
- These findings indicate a specific impairment in motor imagery skills within AS.
Conclusions:
- Adolescents with Asperger syndrome exhibit a specific deficit in motor imagery, particularly in simulating goal-less movements.
- Impaired mental simulation and imitation in ASD may stem from shared underlying cognitive mechanisms.
- This research highlights a distinct alteration in action simulation relevant to understanding ASD.
