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Exploring the relationship between fairness and 'brain types' in children with high-functioning autism spectrum
Yao Wang1, Yunhua Xiao2, Yun Li2
1The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210009, China; The Fourth People's Hospital of Taizhou, Taizhou, Jiangsu Province 225300, China.
Summary
Children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (HF-ASD) accepted unfair offers more often than typically developing children. This acceptance correlated with empathy-systemizing quotient discrepancies, particularly in "Extreme Type S" individuals.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Existing research on fairness cognition in children often examines theory of mind or executive function in isolation.
- Children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (HF-ASD) exhibit cognitive impairments in both theory of mind and executive function.
- Limited understanding exists regarding fairness characteristics in children with HF-ASD concerning these dual cognitive domains.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate fairness characteristics in children with HF-ASD using a responder role in a mini ultimatum game.
- To explore the relationship between fairness behavior and cognitive profiles, specifically empathy and systemizing, in children with and without HF-ASD.
- To determine if specific 'brain types,' such as Extreme Type S, predict fairness-related behavior in children with HF-ASD.
Main Methods:
- Thirty children with HF-ASD and 39 typically developing (TD) children participated.
- Fairness was assessed via acceptance rates of unfair offers in a mini ultimatum game.
- Cognitive profiles were evaluated using the Empathy Questionnaire-Systemizing Questionnaire (E/SC-Q), and relationships were analyzed using Pearson correlation and regression.
Main Results:
- Children with HF-ASD were significantly more likely to accept unfair offers compared to TD children (p=.025).
- In the HF-ASD group, acceptance of unfair offers correlated with the empathy-systemizing discrepancy score (r=0.363, p=.048).
- Extreme Type S 'brain type' significantly predicted higher acceptance rates of unfair offers in children with HF-ASD (p<.001).
Conclusions:
- Children with HF-ASD demonstrate a greater propensity to accept unfair offers.
- The degree of imbalance between empathy and systemizing cognitive development is linked to fairness preference in children with HF-ASD.
- An 'Extreme Type S' cognitive profile is a significant predictor of accepting unfair offers in this population.