scholarly journals How Do We Explain ‛Autistic Traits’ in European Upper Palaeolithic Art?

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 262-279
Author(s):  
Penny Spikins ◽  
Callum Scott ◽  
Barry Wright
Keyword(s):  
Psychotropic Drugs ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Autism Spectrum Conditions ◽  
Local Processing ◽  
Upper Palaeolithic ◽  
Processing Bias ◽  
Local Processing Bias ◽  
Palaeolithic Art

AbstractTraits in Upper Palaeolithic art which are also seen in the work of talented artists with autism, including most obviously an exceptional realism, remain to be explained. However any association between the famously evocative animal depictions created in the European Upper Palaeolithic and what is commonly seen as a ‘disorder’ has always been contentious. Debate over these similarities has been heated, with explanations ranging from famous works of Upper Palaeolithic art having been created by individuals with autism spectrum conditions, to being influenced by such individuals, to being a product of the use of psychotropic drugs. Here we argue that ‘autistic traits’ in art, such as extreme realism, have been created by individuals with a cognitive extreme of local processing bias, or detail focus. The significance of local processing bias, which is found both as a feature of autism spectrum conditions and in artists with exceptional talent at realistic depiction who aren’t autistic, has implications for our understanding of Upper Palaeolithic society in general, as well as of the roles played by individuals with autism spectrum conditions.

Morphology in autism spectrum disorders: Local processing bias and language

2012 ◽  
Vol 29 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 584-600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mila Vulchanova ◽  
Joel B. Talcott ◽  
Valentin Vulchanov ◽  
Margarita Stankova ◽  
Hendrik Eshuis
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Local Processing ◽  
Processing Bias ◽  
Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Local Processing Bias

scholarly journals Menstruation and menopause in autistic adults: Periods of importance?

Autism ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 136236132110597
Author(s):  
Annabeth P Groenman ◽  
Carolien Torenvliet ◽  
Tulsi A Radhoe ◽  
Joost A Agelink van Rentergem ◽  
Hilde M Geurts
Keyword(s):  
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Attention Deficit ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Autism Spectrum Conditions ◽  
Autism Spectrum Condition ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Male Condition ◽  
Spectrum Condition

Autism spectrum conditions were once seen as a predominantly male condition. This has caused a paucity of information on common events in the lives of women, such as menstruation and menopause. Some smaller studies indicate that autistic women might suffer from increased difficulties surrounding these events. This study aims to investigate whether autistic women experience more frequent premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and increased complaints surrounding menopause. In partly overlapping samples (premenstrual dysphoric disorder, n = 70, nASC = 28, ncomparisons = 42; menopause, n = 65, nASC = 30, ncomparisons = 35), we investigated premenstrual dysphoric disorder prevalence and menopausal complaints. In 70 individuals, we did not find an increased prevalence of premenstrual dysphoric disorder in autistic women (14.3%) compared with non-autistic women (9.5%). In 65 women aged 40 years and above, we found that autistic women did experience higher levels of menopausal complaints. In autistic women, higher menopausal complaints were associated with higher levels of depression and autistic traits. In non-autistic women, menopausal complaints were associated with increased inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity (i.e. attention deficit hyperactivity disorder traits), and depression. With this work, we show the important role that major reproductive milestones can have in an autistic woman’s life. Lay abstract Autism spectrum conditions were once seen as a predominantly male condition, but this has caused research to have little focus on women. Therefore, little is known about menstruation and menopause in autism spectrum conditions. Some smaller studies indicate that autistic individuals might suffer from increased difficulties surrounding these events. This study aimed to investigate whether autistic women experience more frequent premenstrual dysphoric disorder, causing extreme physical, emotional, and functional impairment. In a partly overlapping sample, we also examined whether women with autism spectrum condition experience increased complaints surrounding menopause. We did not find an increased prevalence of premenstrual dysphoric disorder in autism spectrum conditions (14.3%) compared with non-autistic women (9.5%). Those with autism spectrum conditions did experience increased menopausal complaints. These menopausal complaints were associated with higher levels of depression and autistic traits. In non-autistic women, menopausal complaints were associated with increased inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity (i.e. attention deficit hyperactivity disorder traits), and depression. With this work, we show the important role that major reproductive milestones can have in an autistic woman’s life.

scholarly journals Vicarious ratings of social touch the effect of age and autistic traits

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Connor J. Haggarty ◽  
David J. Moore ◽  
Paula D. Trotter ◽  
Rachel Hagan ◽  
Francis P. McGlone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Similar Pattern ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Cognitive Factors ◽  
Autism Spectrum Conditions ◽  
Autism Diagnosis ◽  
Social Touch ◽  
Parental Reports ◽  
Effect Of Age

AbstractTactile sensitivities are common in Autism Spectrum Conditions (autism). Psychophysically, slow, gentle stroking touch is typically rated as more pleasant than faster or slower touch. Vicarious ratings of social touch results in a similar pattern of velocity dependent hedonic ratings as directly felt touch. Here we investigated whether adults and children’s vicarious ratings vary according to autism diagnosis and self-reported autistic traits. Adults’ scoring high on the AQ rated stroking touch on the palm as less pleasant than a Low AQ group. However, in contrast to our hypothesis, we did not find any effect of autism diagnosis on children’s touch ratings despite parental reports highlighting significant somatosensory sensitivities. These results are discussed in terms of underpinning sensory and cognitive factors.

scholarly journals Prism adaptation reverses the local processing bias in patients with right temporo-parietal junction lesions

Brain ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 132 (6) ◽  
pp. 1669-1677 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet H. Bultitude ◽  
Robert D. Rafal ◽  
Alexandra List
Keyword(s):  
Prism Adaptation ◽  
Local Processing ◽  
Processing Bias ◽  
Local Processing Bias

scholarly journals Modulation of non-spatial attention and the global/local processing bias

2011 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 352-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas M. Van Vleet ◽  
Albert K. Hoang-duc ◽  
Joseph DeGutis ◽  
Lynn C. Robertson
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Attention ◽  
Local Processing ◽  
Processing Bias ◽  
Local Processing Bias

scholarly journals People With Autism Spectrum Conditions Make More Consistent Decisions

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (8) ◽  
pp. 1067-1076 ◽  
Author(s):  
George D. Farmer ◽  
Simon Baron-Cohen ◽  
William J. Skylark
Keyword(s):  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Consumer Products ◽  
Cognitive Tasks ◽  
Autism Spectrum Conditions ◽  
The Third ◽  
Adult Participants ◽  
Contextual Stimuli ◽  
Practical Implications

People with autism spectrum conditions (ASC) show reduced sensitivity to contextual stimuli in many perceptual and cognitive tasks. We investigated whether this also applies to decision making by examining adult participants’ choices between pairs of consumer products that were presented with a third, less desirable “decoy” option. Participants’ preferences between the items in a given pair frequently switched when the third item in the set was changed, but this tendency was reduced among individuals with ASC, which indicated that their choices were more consistent and conventionally rational than those of control participants. A comparison of people who were drawn from the general population and who varied in their levels of autistic traits revealed a weaker version of the same effect. The reduced context sensitivity was not due to differences in noisy responding, and although the ASC group took longer to make their decisions, this did not account for the enhanced consistency of their choices. The results extend the characterization of autistic cognition as relatively context insensitive to a new domain, and have practical implications for socioeconomic behavior.

A call to arms: Somatosensory perception and action

2007 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 214-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerry Leisman ◽  
Robert Melillo
Keyword(s):  
Perception And Action ◽  
Local Processing ◽  
Somatosensory Processing ◽  
Interhemispheric Communication ◽  
Memory Processing ◽  
Processing Bias ◽  
Global Bias ◽  
Action Guidance ◽  
Local Processing Bias

AbstractSomatosensory processing for action guidance can be dissociated from perception and memory processing. The dorsal system has a global bias and the ventral system has a local processing bias. Autistics illustrate the point, showing a bias for part over wholes. Lateralized differences have also been noted in these modalities. The multi-modal dysfunction observed may suggest more an issue of interhemispheric communication.

scholarly journals Development and Validation of the Suicide Behaviours Questionnaire – Autism Spectrum Conditions in Autistic, Possibly Autistic and Non-Autistic Adults.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Cassidy ◽  
Louise Bradley ◽  
Heather Cogger-Ward ◽  
Jacqui Rodgers
Keyword(s):  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Measurement Properties ◽  
Autism Spectrum Conditions ◽  
Autistic People ◽  
Autistic Adults ◽  
Development And Validation

Abstract Background: Autistic people and those with high autistic traits are at high risk of experiencing suicidality. Yet, there are no suicidality assessment tools developed or validated for these groups.Methods: A widely used and validated suicidality assessment tool developed for the general population (SBQ-R), was adapted using feedback from autistic adults. The adapted tool was refined through 9 interviews, and an online survey with 251 autistic adults, to establish clarity and relevance of the items. Subsequently, 308 autistic, 113 possibly autistic, and 268 non-autistic adults completed the adapted tool online, alongside self-report measures of autistic traits (AQ), camouflaging autistic traits (CAT-Q), depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (ASA-A), thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness (INQ-15), lifetime non-suicidal self-injury, and the original version of the suicidality assessment tool (SBQ-R). Analyses explored the appropriateness and measurement properties of the adapted tool between the groups.Results: There was evidence in support of content validity, structural validity, internal consistency, convergent and divergent validity, test retest validity, sensitivity and specificity (for distinguishing those with or without lifetime experience of suicide attempt), and hypothesis testing of the adapted tool (SBQ-ASC) in each group. The structure of the SBQ-ASC was equivalent between autistic and possibly autistic adults, regardless of gender, or use of visual aids to help quantify abstract rating scales.Limitations: The samples involved in the development and validation of the adapted tool were largely female, and largely diagnosed as autistic in adulthood, which is not representative of the wider autistic population. The SBQ-ASC has been developed for use in research and is not recommended to assess risk of future suicide attempts and/or self-harm.Conclusions: The SBQ-ASC is a brief self-report suicidality assessment tool, developed and validated with and for autistic adults, without co-occurring intellectual disability. The SBQ-ASC is appropriate for use in research to identify suicidal thoughts and behaviours in autistic and possibly autistic people, and model associations with risk and protective factors.

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