Memory for Self-Performed Actions in Individuals with Asperger Syndrome

Memory for action is enhanced if individuals are allowed to perform the corresponding movements, compared to when they simply listen to them (enactment effect). Previous studies have shown that individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) have difficulties with processes involving the self, such as autobiographical memories and self performed actions. The present study aimed at assessing memory for action in Asperger Syndrome (AS). We investigated whether adults with AS would benefit from the enactment effect when recalling a list of previously performed items vs. items that were only visually and verbally experienced through three experimental tasks (Free Recall, Old/New Recognition and Source Memory). The results showed that while performance on Recognition and Source Memory tasks was preserved in individuals with AS, the enactment effect for self-performed actions was not consistently present, as revealed by the lower number of performed actions being recalled on the Free Recall test, as compared to adults with typical development. Subtle difficulties in encoding specific motor and proprioceptive signals during action execution in individuals with AS might affect retrieval of relevant personal episodic information. These disturbances might be associated to an impaired action monitoring system

Etudes expérimentales sur la mentalisation chez des adultes présentant le syndrome d Asperger

L autisme est un trouble qui a fasciné et qui a représenté un chalenge autant pour les cliniciens que pour les chercheurs. Une des directions importantes de recherche sur l autisme dans la dernière trentaine d années concerne le déficit dans la théorie de l esprit. Processus complexe, situé au carrefour de la psychologie cognitive et sociale, la théorie de l esprit continue à être explorée. Le but de cette thèse a été d analyser les différentes facettes du processus de mentalisation dans le contexte clinique du Syndrome d Asperger, sous-catégorie des troubles autistiques. La première étude a permis d étudier chez les personnes adultes avec Syndrome d Asperger la compréhension d un cas particulier de l attribution de la non-intentionnalité, les faux pas. Les résultats de cette étude ont montré que les participants avec Syndrome d Asperger ont identifié correctement l occurrence des faux pas, mais ils ont présenté des difficultés au niveau de l empathie et de la compréhension du contenu des faux pas. La deuxième étude nous a permis d étudier l implication du fonctionnement exécutif dans l interprétation des situations sociales à travers une tâche aux choix multiples. Dans cette étude, nous avons également exploré la modulation d opinion sur l interprétation des situations sociales chez les personnes adultes avec Syndrome d Asperger. Nos résultats ont mis en évidence une similarité des réponses des deux populations (adultes avec Syndrome d Asperger et adultes sans trouble), ainsi qu une tendance à accepter plus facilement l avis extérieur chez les personnes avec Syndrome d Asperger. Dans une troisième étude, nous avons étudié l apprentissage basé sur renforcement chez des personnes adultes avec Syndrome d Asperger. Nous avons discuté l implication de la préservation de la capacité d apprentissage associé au renforcement dans le contexte des possibles mécanismes compensatoires du déficit social dans cette population.Autism is a disorder that has fascinated and, at the same time has been a challenge for both clinical psychologists/clinicians and researchers. One of the main research fields in the autism arena during the past thirty years is related to the deficit of the theory of mind. Acknowledged as a complex process standing at the crossroad between cognitive and social psychology, the theory of mind continues to be explored. The aim of our PhD research was to analyse the different aspects of the metallization process in the clinical context of the Asperger Syndrome which is an autism spectrum disorder. Our first study explored the understanding of a particular case of non intentionality attribution, the fake steps, in adults with Asperger Syndrome. The findings of the study indicate that the adults with Asperger Syndrome identify correctly the occurrence of fake steps, but encounter empathy problems and difficulties in understanding the content of fake steps.The second study analyzed the role of the executive functioning in the interpretation of various social contexts using a multiple choice task in adults with Asperger Syndrome. The study has also examined the impact of the opinion modulation on the interpretation of social contexts. On one hand, the results have revealed that the responses in the two groups (the one of adults with Asperger Syndrome and the one of adults without any disorders) were similar. On the other hand, we observed that the adults with Asperger Syndrome tend to accept easier an external opinion when formulating their response. The third study investigated the reinforcement based learning in adults with Asperger Syndrome. The implication of the preservation of the learning capacity associated with reinforcement has been discussed considering possible compensation mechanisms of the social deficit within this population.ST DENIS-BU PARIS8 (930662101) / SudocSudocFranceF