title: Spatial working memory deficits in autism.
abstract: Previous studies have reported working memory deficits in autism, but this finding has been inconsistent. One possibility is that deficits in this domain may be present only when working memory load exceeds some limited capacity. High-functioning individuals with autism performed the CANTAB computerized test of spatial working memory. Individuals with autism made more errors than a matched group of typically developing controls on this task, and were less likely to consistently use a specific organized search strategy to complete the task. Overall, these results demonstrate reduced spatial working memory abilities in autism, and extend previous findings by demonstrating that these deficits are significant when tasks impose heavier demands on working memory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612-7327, USA.
authors.forename: Shelly D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Steele
authors.forename: Nancy J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Minshew
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Luna
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Sweeney
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D003118:Color Perception / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology; D013223:Statistics as Topic