One hand, two hands, two people: Prospective sensorimotor control in children with autism. (January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ansuini, Caterina; Podda, Jessica; Battaglia, Francesca Maria; Veneselli, Edvige; Becchio, Cristina
• Is Part Of: Developmental cognitive neuroscience. Volume 29(2018)
• Page Start: 86
• Page End: 96
• Publication Date: 2018-01
• Subjects: Autism -- Prospective control -- Grasp height effect -- Sensorimotor -- Kinematics -- Joint action; Cognitive neuroscience -- Periodicals; Developmental neurobiology -- Periodicals; Neuropsychology -- Periodicals; Neuropsychiatry -- Periodicals; 612.8233
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2017.02.009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1878-9293

Abstract

Highlights: Grasp height reveals how grasps are planned. ASD children without intellectual disability show the grasp height effect. Modulation of grasp height is similar in ASD and TD children. Some aspects of prospective sensorimotor control are intact in autism. Abstract: Where grasps are made reveals how grasps are planned. The grasp height effect predicts that, when people take hold of an object to move it to a new position, the grasp height on the object is inversely related to the height of the target position. In the present study, we used this effect as a window into the prospective sensorimotor control of children with autism spectrum disorders without accompanying intellectual impairment. Participants were instructed to grasp a vertical cylinder and move it from a table (home position) to a shelf of varying height (target position). Depending on the conditions, they performed the task using only one hand (unimanual), two hands (bimanual), or with the help of a co-actor (joint). Comparison between the performance of typically developing children and children with autism revealed no group difference across tasks. We found, however, a significant influence of IQ on grasp height modulation in both groups. These results provide clear evidence against a general prospective sensorimotor planning deficit and suggest that at least some form of higher order planning is present in autism without accompanying intellectual impairment.