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Disembedding Performance and Recognition Memory in Autism/PDD
Author(s) -
Brian Jessica A.,
Bryson Susan E.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of child psychology and psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.652
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1469-7610
pISSN - 0021-9630
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7610.1996.tb01482.x
Subject(s) - frith , autism , psychology , coherence (philosophical gambling strategy) , meaning (existential) , cognitive psychology , developmental psychology , recognition memory , developmental disorder , autism spectrum disorder , cognition , neuroscience , linguistics , psychotherapist , philosophy , physics , quantum mechanics
This study explored the claim that superior disembedding performance in autism reflects “less capture by meaning” and/or reduced “central coherence” [Shah & Frith, Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 24 , 613–620 (1983); Shah & Frith, Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 34 , 1351–1364 (1993)]. Meaningless as well as meaningful disembedding contexts were used, and memory for contextual information was examined. Neither qualitative (search strategy) nor quantitative (RT or accuracy) data indicated that high‐functioning individuals with autism/PDD were superior to younger, developmentally matched controls. For both groups, disembedding was slowest from meaningful contexts, which generally were remembered best. No evidence was provided for “less capture by meaning” or reduced “central coherence” in autism/PDD, raising the possibility that earlier findings reflect a developmental, rather than a stable autism‐specific, phenomenon.