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Mental retardation and the acquisition of automatic processing
E C Merrill1, E H Goodwyn, H L Gooding
1Department of Psychology, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa 35487-0348, USA.
American Journal of Mental Retardation : AJMR
|July 1, 1996
Summary
Individuals with and without mental retardation acquired automatic processing with practice. Those without mental retardation showed faster automaticity development, suggesting cognitive skill differences.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Automatic processing is crucial for efficient cognitive function.
- Understanding automaticity acquisition in individuals with mental retardation is key to cognitive development research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine automatic processing acquisition in individuals with and without mental retardation.
- To compare the rate of automaticity development between these two groups.
Main Methods:
- Experiment 1: Object categorization task assessing search set size effects with practice.
- Experiment 2: Target shape detection in visual arrays of varying complexity, with practice.
Main Results:
- Both groups demonstrated automatic processing acquisition, indicated by reduced search set size effects with practice.
- Individuals without mental retardation acquired automaticity faster than those with mental retardation.
Conclusions:
- Individuals with mental retardation can acquire automatic processing, but at a slower rate.
- Findings have implications for understanding and supporting cognitive skill development in mental retardation.