Intact ultrafast memory consolidation and learning dynamics in children and adults with autism and neurotypicals with autism traits

Abstract

To comprehend learning processes in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), it is crucial to examine memory consolidation. The discovery of ultrafast memory consolidation has emerged in the last five years. These studies have revealed that learning can take place not only during practice but also during ultrashort (<1 min) rests between practice blocks, termed ultrafast offline learning. To date, no study has investigated this fundamental learning mechanism in autistic individuals. Therefore, we conducted a series of research with three different samples: 1) children, 2) adults, and 3) neurotypical adults with distinct levels of autistic traits. Participants performed a well-established probabilistic learning task, allowing us to measure statistical learning (i.e., probability-based regularities) and general skill learning (i.e., speed-up regardless of probabilities) separately. Individual differences in online (during blocks) and offline (between blocks) changes of statistical learning were observed. Regarding general skill learning, performance improved between blocks and deteriorated during practice. The results of individual studies indicate that neither ASD status nor the extent of autistic traits influenced the ultrafast consolidation or the dynamics of learning. Our results suggest that ultrafast memory consolidation, a fundamental learning mechanism, is intact in autism.