title: Are Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Initially Attuned to Object Function Rather Than Shape for Word Learning?
abstract: We investigate the function bias--generalising words to objects with the same function--in typically developing (TD) children, children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and children with other developmental disorders. Across four trials, a novel object was named and its function was described and demonstrated. Children then selected the other referent from a shape match (same shape, different function) and function match (same function, different shape) object. TD children and children with ASD were 'function biased', although further investigation established that having a higher VMA facilitated function bias understanding in TD children, but having a lower VMA facilitated function bias understanding in children with ASD. This suggests that children with ASD are initially attuned to object function, not shape.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Fylde College, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YF, UK. c.field2@lancaster.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Field
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Fylde College, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YF, UK.
authors.forename: Melissa L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Fylde College, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YF, UK.
authors.forename: Charlie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lewis
mesh_terms: D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005793:Generalization, Psychological; D006801:Humans; D007804:Language Development; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception
keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; Developmental disorder; Function bias; Shape bias; Word learning