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Autistic Traits and Enhanced Perceptual Representation of Pitch and Time.

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  • Mary E. Stewart, Department of Psychology, Heriot-Watt University, United Kingdom
  • Timothy D. Griffiths, Newcastle Auditory Group, United Kingdom
  • Manon Grube, Newcastle Auditory Group
Enhanced basic perceptual discrimination has been reported for pitch in individuals with autism spectrum conditions. We test whether there is a correlational pattern of enhancement across the broader autism phenotype and whether this correlation occurs for the discrimination of pitch, time and loudness. Scores on the Autism-Spectrum Quotient correlated significantly with the pitch discrimination (r = -0.51, p < 0.05) and the time-interval discrimination (r = -0.45, p < 0.05) task that were based on a fixed reference. No correlation was found for intensity discrimination based on a fixed reference, nor for a variable reference based time-interval discrimination. The correlations suggest a relationship between autistic traits and the ability to form an enhanced, stable and highly accurate representation of auditory events in the pitch and time dimensions.
Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Volume48
Issue4
Pages (from-to)1350-1358
Number of pages11
ISSN0162-3257
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2018

    Research areas

  • Audition, Autism-Spectrum Quotient, Enhanced representation, Loudness, Pitch, Sensory processing, Time

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