A deficit in shifting attention present in high-functioning autism but not Asperger's disorder.
High-functioning autism shows a real but narrow lag in switching from details to the big picture, while Asperger's does not.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team tested 15 teens with high-functioning autism, 15 with Asperger's, and 15 typical peers.
Each teen watched a screen. They had to switch from spotting small details to seeing the big picture.
The computer timed how long the switch took.
What they found
High-functioning autism group took longer to shift from local to global view.
Asperger's group shifted just as fast as typical peers.
Only the autism group showed the lag.
How this fits with other research
Iarocci et al. (2006) tested younger kids and found the same lag, but said it is about executive control, not seeing.
Taddei et al. (2013) used different tests and also saw weaker attention in autism than Asperger's.
Alonso Soriano et al. (2015) found no local-bias at all in teens with ASD. The tasks were automated and quick, so the lag may only show up when people must choose what to see.
Fitch et al. (2015) showed that teens who lost their ASD label no longer had the local focus, hinting the trait can fade.
Why it matters
If you test a teen with HFA, give extra time when asking them to zoom out from details. Use clear cues like "look at the whole picture now." For Asperger's clients, this extra step may not be needed.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
The aim of this study was to examine executive functioning, in particular, attentional set-shifting deficits in high-functioning autism (n = 12) and Asperger's disorder (n = 12). A large or global digit composed of smaller or local digits was presented during each trial. The participants indicated the presence of 1s or 2s by pressing the appropriate button. These targets could appear globally or locally Relative to IQ, sex and age matched controls, reaction time to global targets in individuals with autism was retarded when the previous target appeared locally. This deficiency in shifting from local to global processing, however, was not observed in individuals with Asperger's disorder. The theoretical and neurobiological significance of this dissociation in executive functioning in these clinically related disorders was explored.
Autism : the international journal of research and practice, 2001 · doi:10.1177/1362361301005001007