Autistic traits are associated with enhanced working memory capacity for abstract visual stimuli
We tested whether the association between autistic traits and enhanced performance in visual-perceptual tasks extends to visual working memory capacity. We predicted that any positive effect of autistic traits on visual working memory performance would be greatest during domain-specific tasks, in wh...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Acta Psychologica |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691823000811 |
| _version_ | 1797823782057934848 |
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| author | Louise A. Brown Nicholls Mary E. Stewart |
| author_facet | Louise A. Brown Nicholls Mary E. Stewart |
| author_sort | Louise A. Brown Nicholls |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We tested whether the association between autistic traits and enhanced performance in visual-perceptual tasks extends to visual working memory capacity. We predicted that any positive effect of autistic traits on visual working memory performance would be greatest during domain-specific tasks, in which visual resources must be relied upon. We used a visual ‘matrix’ task, involving recall of black-and-white chequered patterns which increased in size, to establish participants' capacity (span). We assessed 144 young adults' (M = 22.0 years, SD = 2.5) performance on abstract, ‘low semantic’ versus ‘high semantic’ task versions. The latter offered multimodal coding due to the availability of long-term memory resources that could supplement visual working memory. Participants also completed measures of autistic traits and trait anxiety. Autistic traits, especially Attention to Detail, Attention Switching, and Communication, positively predicted visual working memory capacity, specifically in the low semantic task, which relies on visual working memory resources. Autistic traits are therefore associated with enhanced processing and recall of visual information. The benefit is removed, however, when multimodal coding may be incorporated, emphasising the visual nature of the benefit. Strengths in focused attention to detail therefore appear to benefit domain-specific visual working memory task performance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T10:29:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8c7d613cf95f4cad9d46e36a1ce86f07 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0001-6918 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T10:29:03Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Psychologica |
| spelling | doaj.art-8c7d613cf95f4cad9d46e36a1ce86f072023-05-19T04:44:45ZengElsevierActa Psychologica0001-69182023-06-01236103905Autistic traits are associated with enhanced working memory capacity for abstract visual stimuliLouise A. Brown Nicholls0Mary E. Stewart1School of Psychological Sciences & Health, University of Strathclyde, 40 George Street, Glasgow, G1 1QE, UK; Corresponding author.Centre for Applied Behavioural Sciences, Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, UKWe tested whether the association between autistic traits and enhanced performance in visual-perceptual tasks extends to visual working memory capacity. We predicted that any positive effect of autistic traits on visual working memory performance would be greatest during domain-specific tasks, in which visual resources must be relied upon. We used a visual ‘matrix’ task, involving recall of black-and-white chequered patterns which increased in size, to establish participants' capacity (span). We assessed 144 young adults' (M = 22.0 years, SD = 2.5) performance on abstract, ‘low semantic’ versus ‘high semantic’ task versions. The latter offered multimodal coding due to the availability of long-term memory resources that could supplement visual working memory. Participants also completed measures of autistic traits and trait anxiety. Autistic traits, especially Attention to Detail, Attention Switching, and Communication, positively predicted visual working memory capacity, specifically in the low semantic task, which relies on visual working memory resources. Autistic traits are therefore associated with enhanced processing and recall of visual information. The benefit is removed, however, when multimodal coding may be incorporated, emphasising the visual nature of the benefit. Strengths in focused attention to detail therefore appear to benefit domain-specific visual working memory task performance.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691823000811Visual processingVisual cognitionVisual short-term memoryWorking memoryAutismAutistic traits |
| spellingShingle | Louise A. Brown Nicholls Mary E. Stewart Autistic traits are associated with enhanced working memory capacity for abstract visual stimuli Acta Psychologica Visual processing Visual cognition Visual short-term memory Working memory Autism Autistic traits |
| title | Autistic traits are associated with enhanced working memory capacity for abstract visual stimuli |
| title_full | Autistic traits are associated with enhanced working memory capacity for abstract visual stimuli |
| title_fullStr | Autistic traits are associated with enhanced working memory capacity for abstract visual stimuli |
| title_full_unstemmed | Autistic traits are associated with enhanced working memory capacity for abstract visual stimuli |
| title_short | Autistic traits are associated with enhanced working memory capacity for abstract visual stimuli |
| title_sort | autistic traits are associated with enhanced working memory capacity for abstract visual stimuli |
| topic | Visual processing Visual cognition Visual short-term memory Working memory Autism Autistic traits |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691823000811 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT louiseabrownnicholls autistictraitsareassociatedwithenhancedworkingmemorycapacityforabstractvisualstimuli AT maryestewart autistictraitsareassociatedwithenhancedworkingmemorycapacityforabstractvisualstimuli |