Allocentric Versus Egocentric Spatial Memory in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) present difficulties in forming relations among items and context. This capacity for relational binding is also involved in spatial navigation and research on this topic in ASD is scarce and inconclusive. Using a computerised version of the Morris Water Maze task, ASD participants showed particular difficulties in performing viewpoint independent (allocentric) navigation, leaving viewpoint dependent navigation (egocentric) intact. Further analyses showed that navigation deficits were not related to poor visual short-term memory or mental rotation in the ASD group. The results further confirm the need of autistic individuals for support at retrieval and have important implications for the design of signposts and maps.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2101-2111
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of autism and developmental disorders
Volume48
Issue number6
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2018
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 29380269
ORCID /0000-0001-7579-1829/work/142246100

Keywords

Keywords

  • Allocentric, Autism spectrum disorder, Egocentric, Mental rotation, Spatial navigation, Task support hypothesis, Visual short-term memory