Thinking in Pictures as a Cognitive Account of Autism

Abstract

We analyze the hypothesis that some individuals on the autism spectrum may use visual mental representations and processes to perform certain tasks that typically developing individuals perform verbally. We present a framework for interpreting empirical evidence related to this "Thinking in Pictures" hypothesis and then provide comprehensive reviews of data from several different cognitive tasks, including the n-back task, serial recall, dual task studies, Raven's Progressive Matrices, semantic processing, false belief tasks, visual search, spatial recall, and visual recall. We also discuss the relationships between the Thinking in Pictures hypothesis and other cognitive theories of autism including Mindblindness, Executive Dysfunction, Weak Central Coherence, and Enhanced Perceptual Functioning.

The Role of Speech and Language Therapist in Autism Spectrum Disorders Intervention – An Inclusive Approach

“…This graphic version could appear maybe more symbolic than realistic; nevertheless, we were working on the presumption that in ordinary speech and language therapy or special education sessions professionals or parents very often use visual schemes to assess or enhance pragmatic language level, regarding the iconic way of thinking and "inner speech" related to ASD [29,30]. Moreover, to find out and discuss the possible limits of using such visually symbolic …”

Agrootics. A semiotic cubic model description for meaning interpretation

“…This process mirrors in the case of Temple Grandin (2009), diagnosed with autism, which publicly shared the functioning perception of her own mind. It was in the sense of refining this type of formulation, of the hypothesis of an autistic cognition of "thinking in pictures", that Maithilee Kunda (Kunda & Goel, 2010), a researcher in artificial intelligence and cognitive systems, concluded that "given the existence of considerable evidence in line with the hypothesis, the idea that certain individuals with autism may "think visually" should be taken seriously as a cognitive model and receive more focused and sustained attention in behavioral and neurobiological experiments." (id.…”

A Visual Based Proto-Consciousness Model of Human Thinking

“…Ezt a feladatot pusztán propozicionális (fogalmi, nyelvi) reprezentációval lehetetlen elvégezni 1 . Kunda és Goel az autisták gondolkozását elemezve amellett érvel-nek 9 , hogy komolyabban kellene venni a vizuális gondolkodást mint lehetséges kognitív modellt.…”

“…Általánosságban az autistákra jellemzô egy magasabb fokú, bár atípusos vizuális feldolgozás, amit gyakran a beszélt és az írott nyelv csökkent képessége kísér 9,13,14 . A savant-szindróma egy olyan ritka fejlôdési rendellenesség, ahol az általános képességek ugyan korlátozottak, ugyanakkor egy vagy több területen kiváló képességek, vagy éleselméjûség jelentkeznek.…”