Difficulties predicting time-to-arrival in individuals with autism spectrum disorders

Sheppard, Elizabeth; van Loon, Editha; Underwood, Geoffrey; Ropar, Danielle

Abstract

Background:
Previous research suggests people with ASD may have various difficulties in processing and interacting with motion in the environment. We investigated whether individuals with ASD have difficulty judging the location of moving objects in a driving context using a time-to-arrival task.
Methods:
Participants with and without ASD viewed scenes that simulated self-motion towards a junction, while another car approached on a side road. Scenes terminated prior to either car reaching the junction and participants were required to decide which car would reach the junction first.
Results:
Participants with ASD made fewer correct responses although this was only true when self-motion was on a straight road.
Conclusions:
This difficulty in judging the location of moving objects could contribute to difficulties people with ASD experience in learning to drive.

Citation

Sheppard, E., van Loon, E., Underwood, G., & Ropar, D. (2016). Difficulties predicting time-to-arrival in individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 28, 17-23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2016.05.001

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 4, 2016
• Online Publication Date: May 20, 2016
• Publication Date: Aug 1, 2016
• Deposit Date: Jul 9, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 9, 2016
• Journal: Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Print ISSN: 1750-9467
• Electronic ISSN: 1878-0237
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 28
• Pages: 17-23
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2016.05.001
• Keywords: Autism spectrum disorders; driving; motion; prediction impairment; time-to-arrival
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/797946
• Publisher URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1750946716300538
• Additional Information: This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: Difficulties predicting time-to-arrival in individuals with autism spectrum disorders; Journal Title: Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2016.05.001; Content Type: article; Copyright: © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
• Contract Date: Jul 9, 2016