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Brief Report: Visuospatial Analysis and Self-Rated Autistic-Like Traits

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Abstract

Although there is good evidence that the behavioral traits of autism extend in lesser form to the general population, there has been limited investigation of whether cognitive features of the disorder also accompany these milder traits. This study investigated whether the superiority in visuospatial analysis established for individuals with autism also extends to individuals in the general population who self-report autistic-like traits. In an initial study, students scoring high on the Autism-spectrum Quotient (AQ) were faster and more accurate on the Embedded Figures Test (EFT) and the Block Design subscale of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale III compared to those scoring low on the AQ. A second study showed that high AQ scorers were faster to complete the EFT compared to low AQ scorers irrespective of IQ. Results are discussed with reference to weak central coherence theory and the autism spectrum.

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Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Notes

  1. Screening could not be conducted with the full-scale AQ because of time restrictions. Nevertheless, the high and low AQ groups selected for Study 2 based on the short-form AQ were comparable to the corresponding groups selected for Study 1 based on the full-scale AQ, since a 2 (Study: 1 vs. 2) × 2 (AQ group: high vs. low) ANOVA conducted on full-scale AQ scores did not show any significant effects involving Study.

  2. It is unlikely that our results reflect Type I errors since two further studies recently conducted by our research group also show superior EFT performance for high AQ scorers compared to low AQ scores.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank four anonymous reviewers for their comments on an earlier version of this manuscript. This research was supported by NH&MRC Project Grant 403942 to M. T. Maybery, D. R. Badcock, J. C. Badcock and E. Pellicano.

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  1. School of Psychology, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, 6009, Perth, WA, Australia

    Emma J. Grinter, Pia L. Van Beek, Murray T. Maybery & David R. Badcock

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  1. Emma J. Grinter
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  2. Pia L. Van Beek
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  3. Murray T. Maybery
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Correspondence to Emma J. Grinter.

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Grinter, E.J., Van Beek, P.L., Maybery, M.T. et al. Brief Report: Visuospatial Analysis and Self-Rated Autistic-Like Traits. J Autism Dev Disord 39, 670–677 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-008-0658-3

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