title: Body Constraints on Motor Simulation in Autism Spectrum Disorders.
abstract: Developmental data suggested that mental simulation skills become progressively dissociated from overt motor activity across development. Thus, efficient simulation is rather independent from current sensorimotor information. Here, we tested the impact of bodily (sensorimotor) information on simulation skills of adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Typically-developing (TD) and ASD participants judged laterality of hand images while keeping one arm flexed on chest or while holding both arms extended. Both groups were able to mentally simulate actions, but this ability was constrained by body posture more in ASD than in TD adolescents. The strong impact of actual body information on motor simulation implies that simulative skills are not fully effective in ASD individuals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Second University of Naples, Viale Ellittico 31, 81100, Caserta, Italy. massimiliano.conson@unina2.it.
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Conson
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, Alexandra House, 17 Queen Square, London, WC1N 3AR, UK.
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Second University of Naples, Viale Ellittico 31, 81100, Caserta, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Bellis
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Second University of Naples, Viale Ellittico 31, 81100, Caserta, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Errico
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Second University of Naples, Viale Ellittico 31, 81100, Caserta, Italy.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Improta
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuromotor Physiology, Scientific Institute Foundation Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mazzarella
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Second University of Naples, Viale Ellittico 31, 81100, Caserta, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Trojano
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Second University of Naples, Viale Ellittico 31, 81100, Caserta, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Frolli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006225:Hand / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: ASD; Development; Mental transformation; Motor imagery; Motor simulation; Proprioception