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Generativity Abilities Predict Communication Deficits but not Repetitive Behaviors in Autism Spectrum Disorders

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Abstract

Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) often demonstrate impaired generativity that is thought to mediate repetitive behaviors in autism (Turner in J Child Psychol Psychiatry, 40(6):839–849, 1999a). The present study evaluated generativity in children with and without ASD via the use-of-objects task (Turner in J Child Psychol Psychiatry, 40(2):189–201, 1999b) and an Animals Fluency Task (Lezak in Neuropsychological assessment. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1995). Groups differed significantly on two of four metrics from the Animals Fluency Task and two of seven metrics from the Use of Objects task. In the ASD sample, no significant relations were found between generativity and repetitive behaviors. Significant relations were found, however, between performance on the Animals Fluency Task and communication symptoms. Results replicate reports of generativity deficits in ASD and suggest that impaired generativity may reflect communication deficits that are characteristic of the disorder.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by R01 MH073402 (Bodfish). G. Dichter was supported by NIH/NCRR K12 RR023248 and NIMH K23 MH081285. G. Dichter, K. S. L. Lam, and L. M. Turner-Brown were supported by NICHD T32-HD40127. Assistance for this study was provided by the Subject Registry Core of the UNC Neurodevelopmental Disorders Research Center (P30 HD03110).

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Author notes

  1. Tia N. Holtzclaw

    Present address: Department of Psychology, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neurodevelopmental Disorders Research Center, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, CB# 3366, 101 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-3366, USA

    Gabriel S. Dichter, Kristen S. L. Lam, Lauren M. Turner-Brown, Tia N. Holtzclaw & James W. Bodfish

  2. Center for Development and Learning, University of North Carolina, CB # 7255, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7255, USA

    James W. Bodfish

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  1. Gabriel S. Dichter
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  4. Tia N. Holtzclaw
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  5. James W. Bodfish
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Correspondence to Gabriel S. Dichter.

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Dichter, G.S., Lam, K.S.L., Turner-Brown, L.M. et al. Generativity Abilities Predict Communication Deficits but not Repetitive Behaviors in Autism Spectrum Disorders. J Autism Dev Disord 39, 1298–1304 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-009-0742-3

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