ABSTRACT

This study addresses the question as to what cognitive abilities influence performance on article choice and direct object scrambling in high-functioning Dutch-speaking children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Schaeffer (2016/2018) shows that a group of 27 high-functioning Dutch-speaking children with ASD, aged 5–14, overgenerates the indefinite article, and fails to scramble significantly more often than TD age-mates. As article choice, direct object scrambling, and false belief are all hypothesized to rely on perspective taking, we first predict a correlation between scores on article choice, direct object scrambling, and false belief. Furthermore, hypothesizing that article choice and direct object scrambling require holding the previous discourse in mind, it is predicted that memory abilities predict article choice and direct object scrambling performance. Surprisingly, the results reveal no correlation between article choice, direct object scrambling, and false belief. Moreover, no influence of working memory was found, nor of inhibition or morphosyntax, which were also tested. Phonological memory turns out to be the only cognitive ability that predicts scores on direct object scrambling (but not on article choice!). It is suggested that another cognitive skill may contribute to article choice and/or direct object scrambling, namely, central coherence.

摘要

这项研究解决了以下问题：在具有自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）的高功能荷兰语儿童中，哪些认知能力会影响商品选择和直接物体争夺的表现。Schaeffer（2016/2018）显示，一组27名5-14岁的荷兰语ASD高功能儿童，过分生成不定冠词，并且比TD年龄大的同伴争吵的频率更高。假设文章选择，直接对象置乱和错误信念都依赖于观点采择，我们首先预测文章选择，直接对象置乱和错误信念的得分之间的相关性。此外，假设假设商品的选择和直接的对象置乱需要牢记先前的论述，据预测，记忆能力可预测物品的选择和直接对对象进行加扰的性能。出人意料的是，结果表明，商品选择，直接扰码和错误信念之间没有关联。此外，未发现工作记忆的影响，也未发现抑制或吗啡的影响，也未进行测试。语音记忆原来是预测直接物体争夺得分的唯一认知能力（但不是文章选择！）。建议另一种认知技能可能有助于物品选择和/或直接的对象争夺，即中心连贯性。语音记忆原来是预测直接物体争夺得分的唯一认知能力（但不是文章选择！）。建议另一种认知技能可能有助于物品选择和/或直接的对象争夺，即中心连贯性。语音记忆被证明是预测直接物体争夺得分的唯一认知能力（但不是文章选择！）。建议另一种认知技能可能有助于物品选择和/或直接的对象争夺，即中心连贯性。