A preliminary study of gender differences in autobiographical memory in children with an autism spectrum disorder.
Autobiographical memory was assessed in 24 children (12 male, 12 female, aged between 8 and 16 years) with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and a comparison group of 24 typically developing (TD) children matched for age, IQ, gender and receptive language. Results suggested that a deficit in specific memory retrieval in the ASD group was more characteristic of male participants. Females in both the TD and ASD groups generated more detailed and emotional memories than males. They also demonstrated superior verbal fluency scores; verbal fluency and autobiographical memory cueing task performance were significantly positively correlated in females. Results are discussed in light of recent research suggesting gender differences in the phenotype of ASD.
Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths College, University of London, New Cross Gate, London, SE14 6NW, UK, l.goddard@gold.ac.uk.
Lorna
L
Goddard
Barbara
B
Dritschel
Patricia
P
Howlin
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000523:psychology*; D003463:Cues; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D061212:Memory, Episodic; D012737:Sex Factors; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis