Visual shape categorisation in Autism
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Categorisation of abstract shape stimuli in adolescents and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders
IRAS ID
190124
Contact name
Rosannah Cormack
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS FT and The University of Cambridge
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
Visual shape categorisation in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Previous research has suggested that the way in which people with autism learn about and use information about categories of objects, people and experiences might differ. We categorise new information based upon its similarity to things we have previously experienced. We then apply the knowledge from our previous experiences in order to guide behaviour when faced with new situations. This is particularly important in education, employment and social interactions, environments in which people with autism often face difficulties. This research aims to improve understanding of how and why categorisation processes seem to function differently in autism.
Difficulties with categorisation in autism seem to occur particularly in studies that ask individuals to learn categories of abstract shapes. Our research has suggested that adults with autism show a greater tendency to use rules in order to categorise the shapes in such tasks. Adults with autism were also poorer at transferring what they had learnt about category members to new shapes from the same category. In the current study we wish to investigate further whether there is a reliance on rule-based categorisation processing in ASD.40 individuals aged 16-45 with a diagnosis of autism or Asperger's syndrome will be recruited for this study through CPFT, as well as through a participant database held by the Cambridge Laboratory for Research into Autism. The study will take place at City Care Clinic Peterborough, the participants home or the Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge. Participants will take part in computerised categorisation tasks which will last approximately an hour, including time for breaks. They will also complete a feedback questionnaire about the tasks and Raven's Advanced Progressive Matrices will be administered as a measure of non-verbal IQ. The study forms part of Rosannah Cormack's PhD which is funded by the MRC.
REC name
South Central - Hampshire B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/SC/0244
Date of REC Opinion
29 Apr 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion