Autism is not associated with poor or enhanced performance on the Iowa Gambling Task: A Meta-Analysis

Zeif, Dana; Yechiam, Eldad

doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.04.016

Cited by 25 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…In image searches, no such trend emerged. The increased search range in general searches made by individuals with s-sASD supports the validity of laboratory studies showing that high-functioning individuals with ASD are prone to inspective behaviors [5,19]. However, the fact that this phenomenon was not found in such individuals conducting image searches suggests that there is an The differences between image searches and general searches may have been due to the fact that image searches involve greater visual load than typical general searches.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 58%

Unique Internet Search Strategies of Individuals With Self-Stated Autism: Quantitative Analysis of Search Engine Users’ Investigative Behaviors

Yechiam

Yom-Tov

2021

J Med Internet Res

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Background Although autism is often characterized in literature by the presence of repetitive behavior, in structured decision tasks, individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been found to examine more options in a given time period than controls. Objective We aimed to examine whether this investigative tendency emerges in information searches conducted via the internet. Methods In total, 1746 search engine users stated that they had ASD in 2019. This group’s naturally occurring responses following 1491 unique general queries and 78 image queries were compared to those of all other users of the search engine. The main dependent measure was scrolled distance, which denoted the extent to which additional results were scanned beyond the initial results presented on-screen. Additionally, we examined the number of clicks on search results as an indicator of the degree of search outcome exploitation and assessed whether there was a trade-off between increased search range and the time invested in viewing initial search results. Results After issuing general queries, individuals with self-stated ASD scanned more results than controls. The scrolled distance in the results page of general queries was 45% larger for the group of individuals with ASD (P<.001; d=0.45). The group of individuals with ASD also made the first scroll faster than the controls (P<.001; d=0.51). The differences in scrolled distance were larger for popular queries. No group differences in scrolled distance emerged for image queries, suggesting that visual load impeded the investigative behavior of individuals with ASD. No differences emerged in the number of clicks on search results. Conclusions Individuals who self-stated that they had ASD scrutinized more general search results and fewer image search results than the controls. Thus, our results at least partially support the notion that individuals with ASD exhibit investigative behaviors and suggest that textual searches are an important context for expressing such tendencies.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 58%

Unique Internet Search Strategies of Individuals With Self-Stated Autism: Quantitative Analysis of Search Engine Users’ Investigative Behaviors

Yechiam

Yom-Tov

2021

J Med Internet Res

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“…In such tasks, several studies reported superior performance of individuals with ASD, who are less drawn to the immediate salience of rewards, and learn long-term reward contingencies more accurately from choice outcomes [21,28,29]. (However, see [30][31][32] for studies that did not find this advantage. )…”

Section: Trends In Cognitive Sciencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhanced rationality in autism spectrum disorder

Rozenkrantz

D’Mello

Gabrieli

2021

Trends in Cognitive Sciences

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Challenges in social cognition and communication are core characteristics of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but in some domains, individuals with ASD may display typical abilities and even outperform their neurotypical counterparts. These enhanced abilities are notable in the domains of reasoning, judgment and decision-making, in which individuals with ASD often show 'enhanced rationality' by exhibiting more rational and bias-free decision-making than do neurotypical individuals. We review evidence for enhanced rationality in ASD, how it relates to theoretical frameworks of information processing in ASD, its implications for basic research about human irrationality, and what it may mean for the ASD community. Are humans inevitably irrational? Evidence from ASD HighlightsMost research into autism spectrum disorder (ASD) focuses on difficulties and challenges, potentially overlooking intact and even enhanced abilities.Empirical evidence strongly suggests that individuals with ASD display enhanced rationality: judgments that are more objective and decision-making that is less biased than that of neurotypical individuals.Enhanced rationality may confer distinct strengths to individuals with ASD and may provide insights into the mechanism or 'irrationality' in neurotypical individuals.

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“…The difference in choice switching on the IGT between autistic and non-autistic individuals has been replicated in some studies [ 9 , 10 ], though not in others [ 11 , 12 ]. A recent meta-analysis [ 13 ] concluded that the main effect across studies was not significant, but only six studies with switching data were identified and their results were highly heterogeneous, with three showing a significant effect and three that did not. The studies were also different in their inclusion criteria, for example some studies excluded individuals with autism and OCD whose checking behaviors might conceivably result in higher switching [ 14 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Choice behavior in autistic adults: What drives the extreme switching phenomenon?

Zeif

Yakobi²,

Yechiam³

2023

PLoS ONE

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Background Previous studies reported that autistic adolescents and adults tend to exhibit extensive choice switching in repeated experiential tasks. However, a recent meta-analysis showed that this switching effect was non-significant across studies. Furthermore, the relevant psychological mechanisms remain unclear. We examined the robustness of the extreme choice-switching phenomenon, and whether it is driven by a learning impairment, feedback-related aspects (e.g., avoiding losses), or alternatively a different information sampling strategy. Methods We recruited an online sample of 114 US participants (57 autistic adults and 57 non-autistic). All participants performed the Iowa Gambling task, a four-option repeated choice task. Standard task blocks were followed by a trial block with no feedback. Results The findings replicate the extreme choice switching phenomenon (Cohen’s d = 0.48). Furthermore, the effect was found with no difference in average choice rates denoting no learning impairment, and was even observed in trial blocks with no feedback (d = 0.52). There was no evidence that the switching strategy of autistic individuals was more perseverative (i.e., that similar switching rates were used in subsequent trial blocks). When adding the current dataset to the meta-analysis, the choice switching phenomenon is significant across studies, d = 0.32. Conclusions The findings suggest that the increased choice switching phenomenon in autism may be robust and that it represents a distinct information sampling strategy and not poor implicit learning (or a bias in the sensitivity to losses). Such extended sampling may underlie some of the phenomena previously attributed to poor learning.

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Autism is not associated with poor or enhanced performance on the Iowa Gambling Task: A Meta-Analysis

Cited by 25 publications

References 48 publications

Unique Internet Search Strategies of Individuals With Self-Stated Autism: Quantitative Analysis of Search Engine Users’ Investigative Behaviors

Unique Internet Search Strategies of Individuals With Self-Stated Autism: Quantitative Analysis of Search Engine Users’ Investigative Behaviors

Enhanced rationality in autism spectrum disorder

Choice behavior in autistic adults: What drives the extreme switching phenomenon?

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