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The Effect of Concurrent Task Load on Stimulus Over-Selectivity

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Abstract

Stimulus over-selectivity is a phenomenon displayed by individuals with autism, and has been implicated as a basis for many autistic-spectrum symptoms. In four experiments, non-autistic adult participants were required to learn a simple discrimination using picture cards, and then were tested for the emergence of stimulus over-selectivity, both with and without a concurrent task. Greater stimulus over-selectivity was noted when participants completed the concurrent task. The results are discussed in relation to the implications for the development of a model of memory deficits in autism.

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Acknowledgments

Thanks are due to Laura Bradshaw and Jessica Sisti for help in the collection of some of these data. These data were initially presented at the Fourth European Meeting for the Experimental Analysis of Behaviour, Amien, France, 2000, and at the Association for Behavior Analysis Conference, Venice, 2001. These data form part of a thesis submitted in requirement of a Ph.D. degree by the second author.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Wales Swansea,  , UK

    Phil Reed

  2. St. George’s Hospital, London, UK

    Evelyn Gibson

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Wales Swansea, Singleton Park, SA2 8PP, Swansea, Wales, UK

    Phil Reed

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  1. Phil Reed
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  2. Evelyn Gibson
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Correspondence to Phil Reed.

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Reed, P., Gibson, E. The Effect of Concurrent Task Load on Stimulus Over-Selectivity. J Autism Dev Disord 35, 601–614 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-005-0004-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-005-0004-y

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