title: Visuospatial short-term memory explains deficits in tower task planning in high-functioning children with autism spectrum disorder.
abstract: Previous findings on planning abilities in individuals with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (HFA) are inconsistent. Exploring possible reasons for these mixed findings, the current study investigated the involvement of memory in planning performance in 15 children with HFA and 17 typically developing controls. In addition to planning abilities (measured with the Tower of London), short-term memory and delayed recall for verbal as well as visuospatial material were assessed. Findings suggest that particularly reduced efficiency in visuospatial short-term memory is associated with Tower task planning deficits in children with HFA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zinke
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fries
authors.forename: Mareike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Altgassen
authors.forename: Clemens
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kirschbaum
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dettenborn
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kliegel
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D011939:Mental Recall; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D013028:Space Perception; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014706:Verbal Learning