title: Autistic Traits and Enhanced Perceptual Representation of Pitch and Time.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Psychology, Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, Scotland, UK. m.e.stewart@hw.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.affiliation: Auditory Group, Institute of Neuroscience, Medical School, Framlington Place, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, England, UK.
authors.forename: Timothy D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Griffiths
authors.affiliation: Auditory Group, Institute of Neuroscience, Medical School, Framlington Place, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, England, UK.
authors.forename: Manon
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grube
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D010897:Pitch Discrimination; D013998:Time Perception; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Audition; Autism-Spectrum Quotient; Enhanced representation; Loudness; Pitch; Sensory processing; Time