Enhanced decision making and risk avoidance in high-functioning autism spectrum disorder.
OBJECTIVE
Everyday decision making requires integration of a broad range of information from a variety of sources, including cognitive and emotional processes. For individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), everyday decision making can be difficult. The mechanisms that underlie decision making in young people diagnosed with ASD have not been fully explored.


METHODS
We studied children and young adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD; n = 48) compared with an age- and ability-matched typical control group (CON; n = 54). We evaluated performance and psycho-physiological responsivity during the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), an affective decision-making task.


RESULTS
ASD participants were superior to control participants on overall performance (p < .05), especially because of significantly better learning in later stages of the task. While both groups showed robust and equal psycho-physiological arousal to disadvantageous decks, the groups differed in their choice of card type, with the CON group choosing more often from the frequent-gain disadvantageous deck, despite occasional large losses; while the ASD group chose prominently from the advantageous decks.


CONCLUSIONS
A decision-making style characterized by a drive to avoid potential loss rather than to seek possible reward may help decision making for ASD in some situations, but ultimately hinder functioning in relation to prosocial engagement and other complex situations where gain rather than punishment is the most effective motivating factor.
Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University.
Mikle
M
South
Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University.
Paul D
PD
Chamberlain
Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University.
Sarah
S
Wigham
Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University.
Tiffani
T
Newton
Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University.
Ann
A
Le Couteur
Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University.
Helen
H
McConachie
Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University.
Laura
L
Gray
Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University.
Mark
M
Freeston
Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University.
Jeremy
J
Parr
Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University.
C Brock
CB
Kirwan
Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University.
Jacqui
J
Rodgers
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D003657:Decision Making / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012306:Risk