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Journal of Undergraduate Research

Keywords

memory processes, Autism, neurodevelopmental disorder

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Psychology

Abstract

The prevalence of autism, a neurodevelopmental disorder impairing social interaction, communication, and behavior, has risen from 1 in 110 affected to 1 in 88 affected (Centers for Disease Control, 2012). The rise in prevalence of autism has increased the awareness of autism and increased the desire and need for more research. In general, it has been found that memory performance remains largely unchanged in autism. For example, a recent study on recognition memory in autism found that there was no difference in the ability of an autistic participant versus a control participant in identifying whether a stimulus was old or new (Massand et al., 2013). A similar study also found that children with autism appear to have enhanced visual recognition when viewing inanimate objects (Kuusikko-Gauffin et al., 2011). However, it is an open question why object recognition memory in autism is equal to or superior to non-autistic people. It has been suggested that memory processing may be more specific in autism (Sahay et al., 2011). This project seeks to further characterize memory processes in autism in order to determine whether memory representations are more specific as predicted by theorists. This project will increase the understanding of the quality of memory in autism and provide additional information to the body of research involving autism and memory. Another positive outcome of this study is that by increasing understanding of memory processes in autism, occupational and social therapy can be improved to better benefit those diagnosed with autism.

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